Abstract: Methods and apparatus for configuring a menu of an image-capturing device are provided. The methods include entering data into a first computer, receiving the data at a second computer that is located remotely of the first computer, transferring the data to the image-capturing device from the second computer, and using the data to configure the menu of the image-capturing device.

Abstract: A selection device which permits or prohibits serial communication is provided in a lens apparatus capable of performing serial communication to suppress the serial communication although a camera body can perform the serial communication. Thus, a safe operation of the system can be guaranteed. At the same time, the processing speed of the processing circuit in the lens apparatus can be reduced, thereby successfully reducing the power consumption.

Abstract: A stabilizing platform for attachment to the bottom of the camcorder to steady the filming of subjects with the use of fiber optics positioned along the body of the camcorder to transmit remote control infrared signals to an infrared receiving port on the camcorder. The platform includes a two piece bar that is held together with a locking bolt and includes a mounting screw which attaches the camcorder to the top of the platform and also attaches a handle below the platform. The handle has a locking pin to prevent the handle from rotating with respect to the platform. A remote control is attached to the handle. The remote control also can be imbedded into the handle so that the infrared signal can go from the handle directly into the fiber optics thus giving the user instant control of the signal, and improve the quality of the picture. The fiber optic fibers can be attached along a surface of the platform or along the surface of the camcorder by tape or an adhesive.

Abstract: In a collaborating work, it is to provide a digital camera in which camera information about each camera is displayed on a monitor of a master camera and a memory status of each memory card in use is also displayed and further, when monitoring a video from a slave camera, a size of a display screen can be manually set and in a digital camera system at collaborating work, a first digital camera is provided with camera information about each digital camera, a total memory capacity, a total sum of shot-taken frame numbers, a total remaining memory capacity or a display device indicating a total sum of remaining frame numbers. Camera information is information that is required to be set when instructing a shooting work or a storage work or to specify a second digital camera.

Abstract: In an image processing computer system for a photogrammetric analytical measurement in which a survey map is formed by successively connecting survey map sections to each other, each survey map section is produced based on a set of pictures photographed for the measurement. Plural frames of image data are read from a memory in a predetermined order. A monitor displays a scene including a first display area and a second display area. Respective plural pictures are displayed on first display area based on the plural frames of image data read from the memory. A displayed picture can be optionally transferred from the first display area to the second display area. The transferred picture can be optionally returned to the first display area. The pictures displayed on the first display area are rearranged by the transfer of pictures between the first and second display areas such that pictures forming each set for producing a survey map section are capable of being visually recognized.

Abstract: A video tracking system and method which includes a video camera having a selectively adjustable panning orientation, tilting orientation and focal length. A processor receives video images acquired by the camera. The processor is programmed to detect target objects in the images and selectively adjust the camera to track the target object. The camera is adjusted at variable rates which are selected as a function of a property, such as the velocity, of the target object. The focal length of the camera is selectively adjusted as a function of the distance of the target object from the camera. The images acquired by the camera are geometrically transformed to align images having different fields of view to facilitate the analysis of the images and thereby allowing the camera to be continuously adjustable for the production of video images having relatively smooth transitional movements.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is described to improve a digital camera user interface and increase ease of use and functionality of a digital camera by quickly, accurately and robustly permitting cursor control and designation in a digital camera display. A digital camera is used as a pointing device such as a mouse or trackball. The motion of the camera is detected, and the motion of the camera is used to position graphic elements on the camera's own display. The camera's motion can be detected with sensors, such as gyroscopes, or the camera itself can be used as a motion sensor. One application of this involves using the camera as a computer mouse, or like a gun-sight, to select images from a sheet of low-resolution (“thumbnail”) images. The motion of the camera is tracked, and the user aims at the desired image from a sheet of thumbnail images.

Abstract: A digital camera settable in a sleep mode including an ASIC for conducting data communication with a host computer connected to a USB connector, a microcomputer, a pull-up resistor connected to one of a pair of data lines, and a power source circuit. The camera further includes a power source input terminal connectable to a power source output terminal on the host computer, and an on/off switch for turning on/off the power to be supplied to the pull-up resistor. The microcomputer holds the on/off switch off when the camera is set in the sleep mode, while cancelling the sleep mode and turning on the on/off switch upon detecting the connection of the power source output terminal to the power source input terminal. This achieves a greater reduction in power consumption than conventionally, while rendering the camera adapted for a hot plug function even in the sleep mode.

Abstract: There is no surveillance camera system optimum for monitoring an important monitor place by a surveillance camera mainly for crime prevention day and night without humans in attendance, which can automatically monitor the place without humans in attendance and, when something suspicious is found, follow the suspicious without humans in attendance, and accurately monitor the suspicious at high precision. The present invention provides a surveillance camera driving method achieving such a system having the function of obtaining video image signals by two or more surveillance cameras each having a three-dimensional positioning pan tilt head function, organically processing the video information, comparing the processed information with input data of a plane picture or the like or data of pictures of a front view and a side view or the like, and determining whether the processed video signal is the same as the input data or not.

Abstract: A low-angle grip device for holding an ENG camera in desired low-angle positions comprises a grip rod supported at opposite ends by front and rear fixtures secured to the ENG camera body and a camera lens controlling member operated with a thumb of a hand by which the grip rod is grasped. The grip rod at one of its opposite ends is pivotally supported on one of the front and rear fixture, and the grip rod at the other end is tilted upward or downward about the one end by a desired angle and is engaged by the other fixture in the tilted position.

Abstract: A communication device for interconnecting a digital camera to a communication network for downloading data to a remote computer. The device has a network communication port for establishing communication with a network via a pre-defined protocol and communication mode, and has a camera communication port such as a serial, parallel, SCSI, USB or Irda-port that imitates the back end application of a PC, for connection to a digital camera for sending and receiving data to and from the camera. The camera communication port is also used for input of programming and setup data to the communication device from a PC. The device can be programmed to operate on the data directly, such as in the case of data for storage or operational direction, and/or direct the data to the camera. The device may also have a Smart card socket into which a user can insert a card to input data, such as user and camera I.D., user authorization, image marking, camera operational parameter, remote computer/destination address, etc.

Abstract: An improved visual user interface enables control of the interaction of a device with a spatial region. The visual user interface includes a display of a control space and a display of a target space. The content of the displayed target space can be a representation of some or all of the spatial region. The content of the displayed control space and displayed target space can also be established such that the displayed target space provides context for the displayed control space. The device is operated in accordance with the state of the displayed control space. The visual user interface enables a user to change the display of the control space, thereby controlling the operation of the device.

Abstract: An actuator includes a first rotating member rotatable on a first rotating axis, a second rotating member rotatable on a second rotating axis separately crossing the first rotating axis, and a lever having connecting holes for mounting a device. The lever converts the rotation of each of the rotating members into a motion that changes the position thereof. Each of the first and second rotating members is driven by a VCM composed of a coil member and a magnet.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a user to control remotely a digital image capture device without wires. A docking station for receiving a digital image capture device is provided. The docking station includes a wireless receiver. A wireless remote controller for sending at least one command to the docking station is also provided. The docking station also has a communication interface for communicating with the digital image capture device when the image capture device is docked therein. The user employs the wireless remote controller to access one or more functions of the digital image capture device through the docking station.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying an image captured by a video camera displays a window of the captured image, buttons displayed about the window for scrolling the image, and a sizing button displayed adjacent the window for enlarging/reducing the size of the window. If an operator wishes to pan, tilt or zoom the video camera, the operator manipulates the scroll buttons and sizing button for scrolling the image horizontally or vertically and sizing the window. The apparatus causes the camera to tilt or pan in accordance with the scrolling of the window by the scrolling operation and causes the camera to zoom in or out in accordance with the sizing operation. The apparatus is adapted to display an icon which is a miniature image of the image captured by the video camera. When this icon is selected, the application using the video camera is started. The icon is not displayed if the video camera is operating abnormally.

Abstract: A ergonomically designed apparatus for selectively actuating remote robotics cameras. The present invention enables an operator to leave his hand on the robotics controller while selecting any one of several remote robotics cameras. In one embodiment, a selector unit comprises twelve buttons each corresponding to one remote robotics cameras arranged in two columns. The robotics controller, comprising a joystick having a rotatable knob on a top end, is juxtaposed adjacent to a vertical side of the columns of buttons such that an operator may adjust the robotics controller while simultaneously selecting the remote robotics cameras. The camera selector may include a first circuit board containing passive electronics perpendicularly coupled to a second circuit board containing active electronics. The first circuit board and the buttons may be mounted to the face panel by closely placed screws and heavy spacers designed to withstand physical shock.

Abstract: A method for controlling a camera using an image compression algorithm. A motion region and a motionless region are determined with respect to an input image based on a motion vector of a macro block which is for the generation of compressed data from the input image. A center value and a size of a moving object is estimated from the motion region. According to the center value and the size of the moving object, the camera is controlled to track and photograph the moving object. Accordingly, a central processing unit of the moving object tracking system is relieved of substantial processing load, and the processing speed of the system is improved.

Abstract: Methods and systems for efficient video compression by recording various state signals of cameras. In accordance with the teaching of the present invention, a video camera with means to record the movement, zooming state, focus state, and aperture state of the video camera is provided. The luminous intensity, camera identification number and frame index are also recorded. These various state signals are recorded along with video and audio signals on recording media, such as magnetic tapes, memory cards, and hard drives in a predetermined data format. Additionally, video compression algorithms, which utilize such state signals to predict the current frame from previous reconstructed images, are provided. In particular, the information on the various states of the video camera is useful in obtaining accurate motion compensated images.

Abstract: An automatic collimation surveying apparatus is provided with a collimation camera optical system (47) of a high magnification ratio; a wide-angle CCD camera optical system (89) having a wide field of view; a touch-panel display (64) for displaying an image picked up by both CCD camera optical systems; an image processing unit (60) for discriminating points of measurement from the above-described image; a touch-pen for pointing out points of measurement on the above-described image; and an automatic collimation unit (69) for automatically collimating the pointed-out points of measurement. In addition, illumination light from light source (80) is concurrently used as collimation light and is aligned so as to be emitted along the collimation axis (O) of a collimation camera optical system. The surveying apparatus can be remotely controlled from a measurement controller such as a peripheral personal computer.

Abstract: A self-contained wireless camera (10) and a wireless camera system (25) having such a device and a base station (20). Video processing (e.g. video compression) circuitry (200, 210) of the camera device receives video signals from a camera (130) and provides processed video signals. These are transmitted over a shared radio channel. A radio receiver (101) receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals from the base station or another camera device. Images from the camera or the base station are displayed in a selected manner on a display or monitor (140). The base station device (20) receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals, stores them and retransmits them. A command signal is received by the radio receiver to modify operation in such a manner as to control bandwidth usage. Wireless camera devices can adjust their operation to accommodate other wireless camera devices.

Abstract: An image pickup system that is small in scale, handy to maneuver, easy to operate and advanced in editing capabilities is disclosed. A commander device is used both as a remote commander and as a microphone in operating a video camera for image pickup. Wearing a headset on the head, a user looks at images appearing on a headset display to monitor and verify recorded images without recourse to a view finder of the video camera. Functions of the components making up the system are changed by operation of a mode switch attached to the video camera.

Abstract: A deployable monitoring apparatus is provided comprising an ovate housing and a video capturing device operably engaged therewith. The housing has a base and an opposed end disposed along an axis. The housing is further configured to have a center of gravity disposed about the base so as to be self-righting along the axis such that the opposed end extends substantially upwardly from the base. The video capturing device is operably engaged with the housing and is configured to capture video data of a scene external to the housing. In some instances, the video data of the scene may be transmitted by a transceiver module to a station disposed remotely from the scene, wherein the station is configured to process the video data so as to provide a remote visual depiction of the scene. The housing may also include other devices such as, for example, a light source, a motion sensor, an audio sensor, and a chemical sensor functioning independently of or in conjunction with the video capturing device.

Abstract: A photographing system, having; an image acquisition device for acquiring an image data, an image processing section for processing the image data, an image data provision device for processing the image data processed in the image processing section, and an interface connectable to an external display apparatus, wherein when the interface is connected to the external display apparatus, the image processing section obtains information for displayable images from the external display apparatus and processes the image data acquired by the acquisition device according to the information for displayable images, and the image data provision means provides the processed image data to the external display through the interface.