Abstract: A surveillance system and method for activating communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them, and the DIR polling for information posted by a remote server computer (RSC) based upon user inputs thereto, for providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment.

Abstract: Exposed images from a CCD (101) are each captured to Surfaces A, B and C in an SDRAM (103) in a repeated sequence from A, B to C, and the latest image among the images thus captured is displayed. While an image on Surface B is being transferred, an image on Surface A is used as the image to be displayed. The next exposure is started, and images to be displayed are switched, at the same timing as the transfer is started. An image to be displayed on an LCD monitor (1?) is stopped from being updated when camera shake compensating device starts to be released from the mechanical holding. The next switching of images and the transfer of an exposed image from the CCD (101) to the SDRAM 103 are prohibited. When the release of the mechanical holding is completed, the next exposed image is transferred from the CCD (101) to the SDARM (103). Updating is permitted for displaying the image which is transferred to the SDRAM (103) on a display device.

Abstract: An optical device includes a lens holding member that holds a lens and that is movable in a direction along a plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens, and an actuator that moves the lens holding member in the direction along the plane. In the optical device, the actuator includes an actuator element, formed of electroactive polymer, and a connecting member that connects the lens holding member to the actuator element.

Abstract: An image pickup device is provided which includes: an auto focus control unit sampling contrast values as a function of a relative distance from an object by detecting a contrast of an image of the object while driving a lens in an optical axis direction, calculating a focused focal position on the basis of the contrast values, and driving the lens to the focused focal position; a shake detecting unit detecting at least an amount of shake in the optical axis direction of the lens; and a selection judging unit judging selection and non-selection of the sampled contrast values depending on the amount of shake in the optical axis direction of the lens at the time of the sampling. Here, the auto focus control unit calculates the focused focal position on the basis of the contrast value judged as being selected by the selection judging unit among the sampled contrast values.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus for image stabilizing comprises an angular velocity sensor and a controller. The angular velocity sensor detects an angular velocity. The controller controls the angular velocity sensor and performs an anti-shake operation on the basis of an output signal from the angular velocity sensor. The controller performs a modification of an offset output in the value of the output signal during a predetermined period of the anti-shake operation, and does not perform the modification except for during the predetermined period.

Abstract: A filming device includes a filming unit which imports a plurality of frames configuring a moving image at a prescribed sampling rate, a shake amount detection unit which detects a shake amount of each of the frames, a frame position calculation unit which calculates a frame position of each frame based on the shake amount, a reference frame position determination unit which determines a reference frame position to be a reference of a display subject frame, and a frame selection and transmission unit which selects and sequentially transmits frames positioned within a prescribed range centered on the reference frame position.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a hand-shake quantity detector and a controller. The hand-shake quantity detector has a first detector having an angular velocity sensor and has a second detector having an angular displacement sensor. The controller performs an anti-shake operation based on a first angular signal from the first detector and a second angular signal from the second detector.

Abstract: An image processing device including an optical system, a storage device, a position detecting device, and a direction detecting device. An optical system obtains an image of an object, and a storage device stores a predetermined position of an object to be shot. The position detecting device detects a current position of the image processing device, and the direction detecting device detects the directional orientation of the image processing device. A processor then determines whether an obtained object of shooting corresponds to the object to be shot by comparing signals output from said position detecting device and said direction detecting device with the stored position of the object to be shot.

Abstract: A video recording device adapted to be resistive to thermal and mechanical shocks experienced in a catastrophic event, the device including a plurality of interchangeable components, the device comprising: a housing; a video component releasably mounted in the housing and having a lens for capturing images from an external environment of the device and a digital processor for producing digital data from the captured images; a memory component releasably mounted in the housing and releasably coupled to the video component adapted for storing the digital data received from the video component, the memory component including a non-volatile memory unit and an enclosure adapted for inhibiting the transfer of thermal and mechanical shocks from the external environment to the non-volatile memory unit, the non-volatile memory unit enclosed in the enclosure; and an interface component releasably mounted in the housing and releasably coupled to the video component and the memory component, the interface component adapt

Abstract: Image pickup systems capable of preventing blurred images are provided, in which a first sensor detects a variation in inclination of an image pickup device to generate a first sensing data, a second sensor detects a position movement from an image sensor in the image pickup device to generate a second sensing data and a driving unit is coupled to the image sensor. A processing module receives the first and second sensing data, integrates the first sensing data, calculates the integrated first sensing data and the second sensing data to obtain control information, and enables the driving unit to adjust the position of the image sensor according to the control information.

Abstract: A shake correcting device is capable of preventing a correcting optical device from hitting against a component part in the vicinity thereof to generate noise upon outputs from an H bridge driver for driving the correcting optical device being enabled. The device includes an angular velocity sensor that detects shaking of an image pickup apparatus, a position sensor that detects the current position of a shift lens movably disposed for optically correcting the shaking of the apparatus, an H bridge driver that drives the lens according to a drive target value, and an integrator that generates a target correction value based on the output from the angular velocity sensor. The drive target value is calculated based on the target correction value and output data from the position sensor.

Abstract: A subject shake detection device includes a shake detection unit that detects a shake amount of an imaging unit for photographing a subject, a subject shake detection unit that detects an image shake amount from a motion picture to be photographed by the imaging unit and acquires a subject shake amount on the basis of a difference between the image shake amount and the shake amount, and an informing unit that informs a subject shake on the basis of the subject shake amount.

Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus includes a vibration correction unit configured to correct an image shake occurring due to vibration, a first vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an angular velocity of the vibration, a second vibration detection unit configured to detect and output an acceleration of the vibration, a first extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the first vibration detection unit, a second extractor configured to extract a signal in a predetermined frequency band based on an output of the second vibration detection unit, an output correction unit configured to correct the output of the first vibration detection unit based on the signals extracted by the first and second extractors, and a driving unit configured to drive the vibration correction unit based on the output of the first vibration detection unit as corrected.

Abstract: In order to restore blurred images more efficiently, the invention provides a method for restoring an image for an electronic device. The method for restoring the image includes steps as follows. An acceleration signal is generated when an image of a photographed object is received. The distance between the electronic device and the photographed object is measured for generating an object distance. The image is restored according to the acceleration signal and the object distance.

Abstract: A method and system for deblurring an image based on motion tracking. light is recorded at an image sensor of an imaging device to capture an image. motion of said image sensor is recorded at a motion sensor of the imaging device during the recording of the light at the image sensor. A blur kernel is generated based on the motion.

Abstract: By regulating movement of first and second arms 231A and 241A only in an optical axis direction using guide members EN1 and EN2, magnetic forces received from a first magnet 243A and a second magnet 233A which expand horizontally with respect to the optical axis can be stably detected by using a first sensor 2341A held in a first arm and a second sensor 2441A held by a second arm.

Abstract: A device may establish a distance of a device from a reference object. The device may also determine a difference or change in the distance, obtain a zoom value based on the difference or change, and zoom in or out on a view based on the zoom value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image capturing unit for capturing a first image by using an image capturing device, a detection unit for detecting applied vibration and outputting a vibration value representing a magnitude of the vibration, a calculation unit for calculating a first correcting value and a second correcting value from the vibration value, an alteration unit for altering, when a difference between the first and second correcting values is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, a region of the second image so as to reduce a distance between the center of an image obtained by correcting the second image on the basis of the first correcting value and the center of another image obtained by correcting the third image on the basis of the second correcting value, and a correction unit for correcting the second image on the basis of the first correcting value.

Abstract: A lens adjusting device includes a moveable lens supporting portion; a displacement arrangement that displaces the lens supporting portion, where the displacement arrangement generates a signal corresponding to movement, of the lens supporting portion, associated with an acceleration event; a device that compares the signal to a pre-defined threshold level of acceleration; and a protection arrangement to be activated to protect the lens supporting portion when a result of the comparison indicates that the pre-defined threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: An optical image stabilizer for use in a camera to compensate for an unwanted movement of camera, wherein two bending actuators are used to shift a lens element or the image sensor in different directions in a plane so as to shift a projected image on the image sensor in response to the unwanted camera movement. The plane is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of camera, and longitudinal axis of each bending actuator is substantially parallel to the optical axis. The actuator can be fixedly mounted on one end so that the other end is allowed to bend. The actuator can be fixedly mounted on both ends so that the middle section is allowed to bend. Alternatively, the middle section is fixedly mounted and both ends can be used for shifting an imaging component.

Abstract: An image stabilizing apparatus and an image pickup apparatus that can detect shift shake reliably with a simple configuration and make highly accurate image blur correction possible even at very short subject distances. The apparatus has an angular velocity detector for detecting the angular velocity generated by shaking of the apparatus, an acceleration detector for detecting acceleration generated by the shaking, tor for calculating a correction value from the angular velocity, an acceleration corrector for correcting the acceleration based on the shake correction value, and a blur corrector for correcting image blur by decentering an optical axis based on an output of the acceleration corrector and an output of the calculator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging device having a shake correction device which corrects image shake by moving a portion of a photographic lens or by moving an imaging element, which is capable of displaying images obtained from the imaging element as a live view on a monitor prior to photography, the imaging device comprising: a detection device which detects deactivation of the shake correction device; and a display control device which turns off a display of a live view on the monitor for a predetermined period of time upon detection of deactivation of the shake correction device by the detection device.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes an image capturer, operable to perform a first image capturing of an object image so as to generate first image data corresponding to a first time period shorter than a predetermined time period, and operable to perform a second image capturing of the object image so as to generate second image data corresponding to a second time period shorter than the predetermined time period, a storage, adapted to store the first image data and the second image data, and an image generator, operable to generate image data corresponding to the predetermined time period based on the first image data and the second image data.

Abstract: An image stabilizing apparatus is disclosed which is capable of sufficiently correcting shift shakes even with a small and lightweight accelerometer. The apparatus includes an angular velocity detector which detects angular velocity generated by a shake, an angular velocity computing unit which processes an angular velocity signal, the unit processing the angular velocity signal with a first frequency characteristic, an acceleration detector which detects acceleration generated by the shake, an acceleration computing unit which processes an acceleration signal, the unit processing the acceleration signal with a second frequency characteristic having a signal processing band narrower than the first frequency characteristic, an adder which adds an output signal from the angular velocity computing unit to an output signal from the acceleration computing unit, and an image stabilizing mechanism which performs an image stabilizing operation based on an output signal from the adder.

Abstract: A face detector detects a person's face from a through image. When the face is not found, and a shutter button is pressed fully, a correction lens is moved in the direction and at the speed to offset a camera shake detected by an angular velocity sensor and a still image is shot. When the face is found, and the shutter button is pressed halfway, a motion vector detector reads two through images from a SDRAM to detect a subject shake. During the shooting of the still image by full press of the shutter button, the correction lens moves in the direction and at the speed to offset the subject shake.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes an electronic image pickup portion for picking up an image of a subject and generating image data, an angular velocity detecting portion for detecting an angular velocity of the electronic image pickup portion, an rotational angle detecting portion for detecting a rotational angle of the image pickup device on the basis of the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detecting portion, a hand-waggling level judging portion for judging the level of hand-waggling on the basis of the rotational angle detected by the rotational angle detecting portion, and a hand-waggling level display portion for displaying a judgment result of the hand-waggling level judging portion.

Abstract: A shaking sensing unit includes a sensor sensing a rotation about at least one axis, a high pass filter passing only a signal having a frequency not less than a cutoff frequency of the high pass filter, among electrical signals output from the sensor, and a low pass filter passing only a signal having a frequency not greater than a cutoff frequency of the low pass filter and higher than the cutoff frequency of the high pass filter, among the electrical signals output from the sensor. The cutoff frequency of the high pass filter and the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter are variably determined according to a shaking frequency.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, includes: an imaging optical system; an image pickup device; and a control device which is configured to control the image pickup device, wherein the control device is configured to preliminarily decide an exposure order of a relatively short time exposure in a prescribed image size; an exposure with almost the same exposure time as the relatively short time in a smaller image size than the prescribed image size, and a relatively long time exposure in the prescribed image size, and to perform an imaging operation once by exposing the image pickup device by the decided exposure order.

Abstract: An imaging unit having: an image pickup element for imaging a subject; a camera shake correction unit for correcting camera shake by moving the image pickup element, wherein the camera shake correction unit includes a stage which carries the image pickup element; and a reference bedplate supporting the camera shake correction unit; at least two guide members which support the stage movably with respect to the reference bedplate in a predetermined direction respectively; and wherein the camera shake correction unit further includes a biasing member for biasing the stage in one direction except the predetermined directions with respect to the reference bedplate, thereby removing mechanical play in at least two directions out of the three dimensional directions of the guide member.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus for a photographic device includes an angular velocity detector, a position signal generator, a shake corrector, and an exposure time setter. The angular velocity detector detects the angular velocity of the photographic device. The position signal generator generates position signals representing a position of the photographic device by integrating the angular velocity. The shake corrector corrects a shake of the photographic device, based on the position signals. The exposure time setter sets an exposure time of the photographic device. The shake corrector corrects the shake based on the position signals that have frequencies higher than the predetermined cut-off frequency, which is determined in accordance with the exposure time.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a gyro sensor 1240 that detects camera shakes, a feed forward value is calculated by multiplying a first coefficient c1 to an output value of the gyro sensor 1240 when the output value of the gyro sensor 1240 is less than a first predetermined value, another feed forward value is calculated by multiplying a second coefficient c2 smaller than the first coefficient c1 to an output value of the gyro sensor 1240 when the output value of the gyro sensor 1240 is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value, each of the products is respectively added by an addition device to an output value of a drive signal

Abstract: A shake compensating device for optical devices includes an optical system for forming an image of an object; a reflecting surface placed in the optical path of the optical system, a first substrate having a first electrode, placed adjacent to the reflecting surface; a second substrate fixed to an optical device, placed opposite to the first substrate and having a second electrode at a position opposite to the first electrode; a voltage control circuit for applying voltages across the first electrode and the second electrode, one of which is divided into a plurality of electrodes; and a detecting unit for detecting the shake angle of the optical device. In this case, the voltage control circuit controls the voltages applied across the divided electrodes and the other electrode opposite thereto in accordance with the output of the detecting unit.

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: A method and apparatus for receiving motion data and determining acceleration vectors based on biomechanical data and the received motion data. The method further comprises creating an improved image based on the acceleration vectors.

Abstract: A digital camera system has integrated accelerometers for determining static and dynamic accelerations of the digital camera system. Data relating to static and dynamic accelerations are stored with recorded image data for further processing, such as for correcting image data for roll, pitch and vibrations and for displaying recorded images with a predetermined orientation using information about, e.g., roll. Data may also be used on-the-fly for smear suppression caused by vibrations.

Abstract: In an image stabilization control circuit for an image capturing device, a gyro-equalizer (24) is used to integrate an angular velocity signal corresponding to vibration, and determine a required magnitude of lens displacement. The gyro-equalizer (24) integrates the angular velocity signal from a gyro-sensor (12) using an integration circuit (46) (LPF), and converts the signal into an angular signal. A direct current component of the angular signal is removed using a centering circuit (50) (HPF). The LPF and HPF can produce an insufficient phase delay in a low-band side of a target compensation region. A phase lag compensation circuit (48) comprising a low-boost filter compensates for the insufficient phase delay, and brings the phase delay of the angular signal with respect to the angular velocity signal close to 90° in an integration process.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device for subjecting an optical subject image to photoelectric conversion to generate an image signal; an angular velocity sensor for detecting angular velocity with the imaging apparatus; a first shaking amount calculation unit for integrating detection values from the angular velocity sensor to calculate first shaking amount of the imaging apparatus; a second shaking amount calculation unit for calculating second shaking amount of the imaging apparatus based on image data from the imaging device; a third shaking amount calculation unit for correcting the first shaking amount to calculate third shaking amount of the imaging apparatus based on first amplitude which is a fluctuation range relating to the first shaking amount, and second amplitude which is a fluctuation range relating to the second shaking amount; and a correction control unit for correcting the shaking of the imaging apparatus based on the third shaking amount.

Abstract: The photographic apparatus according to the present invention comprises a posture detecting device which detects the posture of a body of the photographic apparatus, a store instructing device which instructs storing of a posture detected by the posture detecting device, a posture storing device for storing the posture detected by the posture detecting device in accordance with an instruction from the store instructing device, a discrepancy extent computing device which compares the posture stored by the posture storing device and the current posture detected by the detecting device, and computes the extent of any discrepancy of the current posture from the posture stored by the posture storing device, and a correction information generating device for generating correction information for correcting the current posture to the posture stored by the posture storing device on the basis of the extent of the discrepancy computed by the discrepancy extent computing device.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable-unit and a fixed-unit. The movable-unit has an imaging device and can be moved in first and second directions. The fixed-unit slidably supports the movable-unit in both the first and second directions. The movable-unit has a hall-element unit, and a first driving coil which is used for moving the movable-unit in the first direction, and a second driving coil which is used for moving the movable-unit in the second direction. The hall-element unit has a horizontal hall-element which is used for detecting a position of the movable-unit in the first direction as a first location, and a vertical hall-element which is used for detecting a position of the movable-unit in the second direction as a second location. The horizontal hall-element is arranged inside the first driving coil. The vertical hall-element is arranged inside the second driving coil.

Abstract: A shake sensor outputs an analog shake detection signal representative of a shake of a camera body. An amplifier operates for amplifying the analog shake detection signal to generate an analog amplification-resultant signal. The analog shake detection signal and the analog amplification-resultant signal are converted into a digital shake detection signal and a first digital amplification-resultant signal, respectively. A signal value represented by the digital shake detection signal is amplified on a digital basis to generate a second digital amplification-resultant signal. A decision is made as to whether or not the signal value represented by the first digital amplification-resultant signal remains greater than a predetermined reference value during at least a prescribed time interval. One is selected from the first and second digital amplification-resultant signals in response to the result of the decision. A shake corrective signal is generated in response to the selected signal.

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 vibration reduction apparatus estimates a reference value from a vibration detection signal, and determines a target drive position from a difference between the vibration detection signal and the estimated reference value. A driving unit drives a vibration reduction mechanism so that the vibration reduction mechanism makes a follow-up movement to the target drive position. The vibration reduction apparatus has a feedback path for feeding back a motion signal to the reference value. A feedback control unit for changing the feedback amount of the motion signal in accordance with a difference in an analytical condition of the motion signal is provided on the feedback path.

Abstract: A digital camera comprising: a solid-state image pickup device having an image pickup region; a signal processing unit for generating a through-image on a basis of an image signal read from a region extracted from a through-image extraction frame of said image pickup region; a display unit for displaying said through-image generated by said signal processing unit; a camera shake detection unit for detecting an amount of camera shake; and a control unit for calculating an amount of displacement by amplifying said amount of camera shake detected by said camera shake detection unit and shifting said through-image extraction frame on a basis of said amount of displacement.

Abstract: An image stabilization control circuit controls an optical element driving element configured to move an optical element provided in an imaging apparatus based on an output signal of a vibration detection element provided in the imaging apparatus. The image stabilization control circuit includes an analog-digital conversion circuit configured to receive an analog signal from a position detection element that detects the position of the optical element and convert the input analog signal into a digital signal, and a servo circuit configured to generate a correction signal for correcting the position of the optical element based on an output signal of the analog-digital conversion circuit and output the generated correction signal to the optical element driving element. The servo circuit includes a digital filter circuit and a register. The digital filter circuit performs filter processing based on a filter coefficient stored in the register.

Abstract: A digital camera having a camera-shake compensation mechanism and a luminance compensation processor is provided. The camera-shake compensation mechanism compensates for a camera-shake by adjusting a relative relation between positions of an optical axis of a photographing optical system and a center of an image of an imaging device. The luminance compensation processor compensates for luminance information of pixels of the imaging device, which are outside an image circle of the photographing optical system during a camera-shake compensation operation performed by the camera-shake compensation mechanism.

Abstract: An anti-shake system includes a movable portion to which an optical element is mounted; a support member which holds the movable portion in a manner to allow the movable portion to move freely in directions orthogonal to an optical axis; and a drive system which drives the movable portion in the directions orthogonal to the optical axis. A natural frequency of the movable portion that originates from the movable portion and the support member is set within the range of frequencies of shaking of an apparatus equipped with the anti-shake system which is caused by hand shake.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: an imaging unit for taking a picture of an object using an image pickup device; a picture storing unit for storing the picture taken; a vibration detecting unit for detecting an amount of vibration applied to the imaging unit and outputting the detected amount of vibration; a compensation amount calculating unit for calculating an amount of compensation necessary for offsetting effects of the vibration on the imaging unit in accordance with the amount of vibration; a change amount calculating unit for calculating an amount of change in the amount of compensation between predetermined positions; a compensation limit determining unit for determining whether a limit of the compensation available for the picture stored in the picture storing unit is exceeded by the amount of change; a compensation amount adjusting unit for adjusting the amount of compensation depending on whether the limit of the compensation is exceeded, before outputting the adjusted am

Abstract: A camera module having an image sensor, which forms a low-pixel image sensor integrated with an image signal processing unit such as Image Signal Processor (ISP)/Analog Front End (AFE) includes: an image sensor unit for converting light being incident after passing through a prism into image data and applying image data, which is hand shake-corrected by movements between a plurality of positions, to a multimedia processor of a product, a drive controller for receiving and calculating hand-shake information acquired by a plurality of gyrosensors and calculating an amount of correction to control driving of a sensor driver, a motor, and lenses, and the sensor driver for moving the image sensor unit to correct a hand shake under control of the drive controller.

Abstract: To provide an image blur correcting device in which the fluctuation of an image is little and the image blur can be properly corrected relative to the vibration of a wide range of frequency region, an image blur correcting device is provided in which angular velocity signals of a vibration applied to an optical system are obtained from an angular velocity sensor having good drift characteristics and an angular velocity sensor having good frequency characteristics and synthesizing the angular velocity signals by a synthesizing circuit is performed.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention preferably comprises an image sensor, an orientation sensor, a memory and a processing unit. The image sensor is used for generating captured image data. The orientation sensor is coupled to the image sensor, and is used for generating signals relating to the position of the image sensor. The memory, has an auto-rotate unit comprising program instructions for transforming the captured image data into rotated image data in response to the orientation sensor signals. The processing unit, executes program instructions stored in the memory, and is coupled to the image sensor, the orientation sensor and the memory. The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of: generating image data representative of an object with an image sensor; identifying an orientation of the image sensor relative to the object during the generating step; and selectively transferring the image data to an image processing unit in response to the identifying step.