Abstract: Methods and systems for generating still images and video by capture of images projected by light passing through a display screen are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes controlling light emitting components of a display screen to activate in a sequence for displaying a sequence of images. For example, in an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display screen, the method may include controlling a subset of the display screen OLEDs to activate in sequence to display a sequence of images. The displayed sequence of images may appear to a viewer of the display screen to be a still image or a video. The method may control light emitting components different subsets of the LEDs to be activated in the sequence, such that different areas of the display screen display images in each part of the sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed are a digital photographing apparatus and a control method thereof. According to the digital photographing apparatus and the control method thereof, a user is allowed to manage data, captured in the same event, within a single display screen regardless of the kinds of contents and to easily perform switching between contents.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for processing continuous image data captured by a digital image processor which encodes/decodes a plurality of continuous images in a Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG) format. The apparatus includes a digital signal processing unit which compresses the continuous image data into video data in consideration of correlations between neighboring images, or converts the compressed video data into displayable data.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit configured to photoelectrically convert light into an electrical signal serving as an imaging signal and output the imaging signal at predetermined frame intervals, a memory configured to store the imaging signal output from the image pickup unit, a first signal processing unit configured to generate a Y/C signal from the imaging signal output from the image pickup unit, a second signal processing unit configured to generate a Y/C signal from the imaging signal stored in the memory, and a control unit configured to control power supplied to each of the first and second signal processing units.

Abstract: A method of one aspect may include monitoring movement of a scanning beam image acquisition device. Images may be acquired with the scanning beam image acquisition device using a first image acquisition mode when the monitoring indicates that the scanning beam image acquisition device is moving. Images may be acquired with the scanning beam image acquisition device using a second image acquisition mode when the monitoring indicates that the scanning beam image acquisition device is substantially still. The second image acquisition mode is different than the first image acquisition mode. In one aspect, the first mode has a relatively higher frame rate and relatively lower number of lines of image resolution than the second mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a digital image signal and a method of controlling the same includes: a storage unit that stores a video file including a first video with a first resolution; a resizing unit that generates a second video with a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution; a determining unit that determines whether any of one or more frames of the second video satisfies a preset condition; and a still image generating unit that generates a still image by capturing a frame of the first video corresponding to a frame of the second video satisfying the condition. Accordingly, a user may more precisely obtain a high-quality still image with respect to a point in time desired by the user.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a focus lens that constitutes an image-pickup optical system configured to form an optical image of an object, a driver configured to drive the focus lens in an optical axis direction of the image-pickup optical system in focusing, and a controller configured to store a position of the focus lens in a memory which is set in accordance with an operation of a setter, and to control the driver in accordance with a manipulation of a manipulator so as to move the focus lens to the position stored in the memory, wherein the controller controls the driver so that a driving speed at which the focus lens is moved to the position stored in the memory when a mode of taking the object is a still image-pickup mode is higher than that in a motion image-pickup mode.

Abstract: An image capturing device and method for improving capturing skill or knowledge by enabling a user to understand a reason for setting a proper capturing parameter. The image capturing device switches between an auto capturing mode for automatically setting capturing conditions and a manual capturing mode for manually setting capturing conditions, and includes a capturing parameter setting part that sets a capturing parameter used in the auto capturing mode, based on parameter determination information calculated from an original image, a setting reason setting part that associates and stores a setting reason for the capturing parameter value with a value of the parameter determination information corresponding to the capturing parameter, and an association processing part that determines the setting reason from the capturing parameter value in the auto capturing mode by referring to the setting reason storing part, and associating the setting reason with a captured image.

Abstract: A portable electronic device comprising a image sensor for capturing image data and a audio sensor for capturing audio data. The portable device further comprising a processor coupled to said image sensor and said audio sensor, said processor having a first and second mode of operation, and a capture key coupled to said processor for initiating the first mode of operation, wherein said processor captures audio data and video data in the first mode of operation and is operable to capture audio data in the second mode of operation and the second mode of operation follows the first mode of operation.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a reference voltage generation unit that generates a reference voltage that alternately decreases and increases at a constant rate in an operation mode of the image sensor to convert analog signals of detected incident light to a digital value using the reference voltage to determine an intensity of the incident light with high sensitivity and high signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A camera apparatus for encoding a video signal received from a photographing means in MPEG video format or equivalent format, encoding an audio signal received from an audio inputting means in MPEG audio format or equivalent format, multiplexing the encoded MPEG video signal and the encoded MPEG audio signal, storing the multiplexed data to a memory means is disclosed, that comprises an I picture generating means for encoding the video signal received from the photographing means corresponding to an intra-frame encoding process so as to generate an I picture in the MPEG video format or equivalent format, and a controlling means for controlling a storing process of the multiplexed data to the memory means, wherein said controlling means generates a P picture or a B picture in the MPEG video format or equivalent format in such a manner that moving vectors of all macro blocks thereof are 0 and the chronologically preceding picture is copied as an encoded picture, wherein said controlling means encodes the audio

Abstract: An image data processing method to capture still images while capturing motion images is disclosed. The method includes stopping a motion image capturing according to a first instruction to generate a first motion image data with a first resolution, thereafter, carrying out live view at a predetermined time; outputting the image data in the predetermined time and generating a first temporal motion data with a second resolution; capturing a still image data according to a second instruction after the predetermined time; transforming the first temporal motion data and the still image data and generating a second motion image data by combining the transformed data with the first motion image data. The method and device according to the present invention can be used in a camera to capture still images while capturing motion images.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array section formed by a plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion element disposed in the form of a matrix; and control means for selectively controlling shutter operations and readout operations performed on the pixels of the pixel array section on a row-by-row basis to control an exposure time for the pixels, wherein the control means provides an exposure time lasting for Q frame periods to expose the pixels in each row of the pixel array section when sub-sampling reading is performed at a sub-sampling ratio of 1/Q (Q is a positive integer).

Abstract: A method, programmed medium and system are disclosed which provide for enabling a user to set the number of images/video that needs to be recorded prior to storing them in memory. The system is configured to manage the resolution and quality of the images/video, either automatically or manually, so that the images or video recordings are stored with the highest possible quality aspects within the free memory space available.

Abstract: An optical apparatus having a recording mode that is switchable between motion picture recording and still picture recording includes an optical element, a motor that includes a rotor having a magnet, and a stator having a coil configured to provide a rotational force to the magnet, the motor being configured to drive the optical element, a position sensor configured to detect a position of the rotor of the motor, and a driving circuit configured to select, in accordance with the recording mode, first driving configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with a determined time interval, or second driving configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with an output of the position sensor.

Abstract: The image pick-up apparatus has an image pick-up unit that picks up an image and outputs RAW still image data; a creation unit that creates, when the RAW still image data is picked up, a development parameter that is a parameter used in development processing of the RAW still image data; and a saving unit that saves, in a storage unit, the development parameter created when the RAW still image data is picked up as a first development parameter which can be used in development processing of the RAW still image data, and further saves, in the storage unit, a development parameter created at other time as a second development parameter which can be used in development processing of the RAW still image data, when saving the RAW still image data outputted from the image pick-up unit in the storage unit.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a control method thereof are disclosed. The digital photographing apparatus receives a voice, recognizes the received voice, and stores the recognized voice to correspond to a face. In this way, by recognizing the voice while displaying an image, an owner of the voice can be identified and thus a face of a person which is not included in an image being captured can be displayed on a screen.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device comprises a first readout circuit configured to read out a signal from a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, a signal holding unit configured to hold the signal read out from the first readout circuit, a second readout circuit configured to read out the signal held in the signal holding unit, and a current control unit configured to control an electric current flowing through at least part of the first readout circuit while the first readout circuit reads out the signal. The current control unit controls an electric current flowing through the at least part of the first readout circuit in a moving image capturing mode to be smaller than an electric current flowing through the at least part of the first readout circuit in a still image capturing mode.

Abstract: An apparatus which concurrently shoots a movie and a still image, comprises an image sensing unit which generates movie data and still image data; a storage unit which stores the generated still image data in a temporary memory area at predetermined time intervals; a detection unit which detects at least one of feature information, audio information and operation information; an analyzing unit which analyzes the detected information; a control unit which outputs, based on an analysis result, an instruction used as a trigger for selecting still image data among the still image data stored in the temporary memory area; an image processing unit which performs image processing on the selected still image data selected in accordance with the instruction used as the trigger; and a recording unit which records the processed still image data.

Abstract: An image producing apparatus according to the present invention includes a control unit configured to switch from an operation mode of a face detection automatic exposing/focusing unit to an operation mode of a color detection automatic exposing/focusing unit when a single object region other than a face image is specified by a manipulation of a touch panel during an operation of the face detection automatic exposing/focusing unit, and to switch from the operation mode of the color detection automatic exposing/focusing unit to the operation mode of the face detection automatic exposing/focusing unit when a single face image is specified by a manipulation of the touch panel during an operation of the color detection automatic exposing/focusing unit.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises: a pixel array including a first pixel group and a second pixel group; a first readout unit which reads out a first signal from the first pixel group in a readout period which remains constant regardless of the operation modes; a second readout unit which reads out a second signal from the second pixel group in a readout period selected in accordance with a switched operation mode between the operation modes; and a control unit which controls a performance of generating an evaluation value by using the first signal of the first pixel group, and which controls at least one of image displaying performance and image recording performance by using the second signal of the second pixel group.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image capturing apparatus comprising an image capturing element configured to convert an optical image into an image signal, a signal processing unit configured to apply signal processing to the image signal and to output the processed image signal, a super-resolution processing unit configured to apply, when a still image of the object is to be captured during capturing of a moving image of the object, super-resolution processing for enhancing a resolution by compositing a plurality of image signals output from the signal processing unit, and outputting an image signal required to generate the still image of the object, and an APC correction unit configured to apply APC correction processing for emphasizing an edge of each of the image signal output from the signal processing unit and the image signal output from the super-resolution processing unit, and to output the processed image signal.

Abstract: An in-vivo imaging device including a camera may include a frame storage device. Systems and methods which vary the frame capture rate of the camera and/or frame display rate of the display unit of in-vivo camera systems are discussed. The capture rate is varied based on physical measurements related to the motion of the camera. Alternatively, the frame capture rate is varied based on comparative image processing of a plurality of frames. The frame display rate of the system is varied based on comparative image processing of a multiplicity of frames. Both the frame capture and the frame display rates of such systems can be varied concurrently.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes first-group pixels 41, second-group pixels 42 skipped during thinning drive, and a scanning section 13. The scanning section 13 drives each of the first-group pixels 41 to perform read operation of outputting the output signal and initializing the amount of the signal charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to a first level, and also drives each of the second-group pixels 42 to perform discharge operation of initializing the amount of the signal charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to a second level that is higher than the first level and lower than a saturation signal level of the photoelectric conversion element 12.

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

Abstract: Still images can be captured during capture of video frames at different resolutions. Still image data and video data at different resolutions and in different data formats can be combined into a single file and stored in a memory. Storing the video data and still image data in a single file simplifies the process of displaying video in conjunction with display of representative still images.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit having a discrete pixel structure that outputs directly signals of respective M sample points corresponding to M pixels per single frame for normal imaging and imaging at a first frame rate. The imaging unit adds signals of respective N pixels out of M pixels per single frame and outputs signals of M/N sample points (M and N are integers equal to or greater than 2) at each frame for high-speed imaging and imaging at a second frame rate greater than the first frame rate. An operation unit outputs directly output signals from the imaging unit for normal imaging and performs interpolation operations on the output signals from the imaging unit for interpolating signals of the (N?1) sample points between respective sample points to output interpolated signals of the M sample points for high-speed imaging.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image sensor, and an object scene image is repetitively output from the image sensor. A CPU repetitively determines whether or not the object scene image output from the image sensor has a face image turned to the imaging surface prior to a half depression of a shutter button. A face detection history including a determination result is produced on a face detection history table by the CPU. The CPU decides a face image position on the basis of the face detection history described in the face detection history table when the shutter button is half-depressed. An imaging condition such as a focus, etc. is adjusted by noting the determined face image position.

Abstract: A display control device includes: a composite image generating unit configured to generate a composite image by compositing a unit image and a still image, such that a still image which is correlated with a moving image and has a still image aspect ratio different from a moving image aspect ratio, is superimposed on a portion of a unit image of the moving image which is formed of multiple temporally continuous unit images having a moving image aspect ratio; and a display control unit configured to display the composite image on a display screen of a display unit.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging device comprising means for binning by adding up and reading out pixel signals from a plurality of pixels arranged in a first direction and a second direction of a pixel arrangement of an imaging element. The imaging device is provided with first means for changing a combination pattern of added pixel signals on a per-frame basis, and second means for generating image signals for one frame based on added signals from plural frames having different combination patterns.

Abstract: An application for a device that includes an image sensor, an orientation sensor and image capture capabilities. Operation of the device is based upon a detected orientation of the device by the orientation sensor. In one embodiment, when the device is in a horizontal orientation, the image capture operates as a digital still image camera and when the device is in a vertical orientation, the image capture operates as a digital video camera. Other orientations are anticipated including upside down as well as other operating modes such as flash enabled and flash disabled. Optionally, a control is provided to lock the operation in one of the modes irrespective of changes in the orientation of the device.

Abstract: A recording apparatus of the present invention includes a recording unit for recording in a recording medium, motion image data in accordance with a predetermined movie recording method and recording still image data in accordance with a still image recording method different from the movie recording method, a conversion motion image generation unit for generating conversion motion image data in accordance with the movie recording method with use of the still image data recorded in the recording medium, and a sub-information generation unit for generating sub-information data related to the still image data that is used for the conversion motion image data generated by the conversion motion image generation unit, in which the recording unit records the conversion motion image data and the sub-information data in the recording medium in accordance with the movie recording method in a multiplexing manner.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a readout unit that reads still picture signals from first pixels among a plurality of pixels disposed on an imaging device and reads motion picture signals from second pixels among the plurality of pixels at predetermined frame cycles, and a readout control unit that controls the readout timings of the still picture signals based on the length of a still picture exposure period for accumulating the still picture signals and the length of a motion picture frame cycle period which is the period of the frame cycles.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes an imager, an image reducer for reducing an image size from imaging data obtained from the imager, a moving image configurer for rendering an image reduced by the image reducer as a moving image, an image processor for image-processing image data, a network communicator, and a storing device for storing frame image data obtained from the imager in response to a control instruction from the outside while taking a moving image. The image data stored in the storing device is image-processed by dividing it into non-operating periods of moving image processing per frame configuring the moving image. Also, parallel processing of a moving image and a still image is performed without lowering a frame rate of the moving image.

Abstract: Provided are a digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The digital photographing apparatus includes a snap motion picture capturing mode and is capable of capturing a short-time motion picture using the same sequence as capturing of still images by pressing a capture start button.

Abstract: The present invention displays, based on multiple original images, multiple images as if pieces of paper were actually being flipped. The present invention is an image generating apparatus for generating, from input multiple original still images, altered pictures and arranging the original still images and the generated altered pictures to form content images used for creating moving images, the apparatus comprising: a memory device that stores altering means to generate, from the original still image, multiple altered pictures with different alteration levels; and an image processing device that uses the altering means to generate, from each of the multiple original still images, multiple altered pictures with different alteration levels and that generates content images in which the generated altered pictures are disposed between the multiple still original images with the alteration levels being gradually changed.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus comprises a light panel having a panel frame, and a plurality of LEDs or other light elements secured to the panel frame. The panel frame may be a portable frame. A self-contained battery unit securably attaches to the outside of the panel frame. The light panel may have a dimmer switch, and may also be capable of receiving power from a source other than the self-contained battery unit. The lighting apparatus can be mounted to a camera or a stand. The lighting apparatus may include an effects generator in communication therewith which generates a continuous light or a flash of light from the LEDs or other light elements. Diffusion lenses or color gels may be integrated with or detachable from the light panel.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes a pre-processing block. The pre-processing block fetches four partial images outputted in a parallel manner from an image sensor in response to a clock CLK1 having a frequency equal to or less than 432 MHz, and performs four pre-processes that have responded to a clock CLK2 having a frequency ¼ the frequency of the clock CLK1, on each of the fetched four partial images. An image based on the processed four partial images is outputted from an LCD monitor. An evaluation-image producing circuit responds to a clock CLK3 so as to create an evaluation image based on the processed four partial images. A frequency of the clock CLK3 is adjusted in a range in which ¼ of 432 MHz is the upper limit. A parameter for regulating a quality of an output image is adjusted based on the evaluation image thus created.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises an image sensor, a driving unit that drives the image sensor so as to output electrical signals through multiple readout modes including at least a full pixel readout mode and a thinning readout mode, an acquisition unit that acquires lens magnification chromatic aberration correction information, a correction coefficient calculation unit that obtains a coefficient for a first magnification chromatic aberration correction method during full pixel readout and a coefficient for a second magnification chromatic aberration correction method during thinning readout, and a digital signal processor that corrects the electrical signals using the obtained coefficients. In the second magnification chromatic aberration correction method, the thinned and read-out electrical signals are corrected based on positions in the image sensor of pixels corresponding to the electrical signals.

Abstract: There are provided a framing assisting means for displaying as a moving picture object data as well as a profile of an area that is synthesized with a foreground of selected background data on an LCD 26 in a first magnification, a recording means for storing the object data selected by a shutter instruction in a nonvolatile memory to correlate with the selected background data, and a playing means for displaying as a still picture the object data stored in the nonvolatile memory and the background data correlated with the object data on the LCD 26 by applying a magnification varying process that is used to display the object data on the LCD 26 in a magnification smaller than the first magnification.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus having framing assist control, a controller controls a change speed of the display angle of view changed by a second or a third instruction member faster than the change speed of the display angle of view changed by a first instruction member. The first instruction member is configured to issue an instruction regarding a change of a display angle of view and a change direction of the display angle of view. The second instruction member is configured to issue an instruction to change the display angle of view displayed on the monitor to a wide-angle side by a predetermined amount. The third instruction member is configured to issue an instruction to change the display angle of view displayed on the monitor to the display angle of view before the display angle of view is changed by the second instruction member.

Abstract: An apparatus takes in a plurality of still image frames, to generate an interpolated image frame. Next, moving addition of the still image frame and an interpolated image frame is performed in time-axis direction, to generate a superimposed image frame. At this time, high spatial frequency components in the superimposed image frame are suppressed strongly as alienation of motion between the still image frames becomes larger. Movie is reproduced by sandwiching these superimposed image frames between the still image frames. As a result of this, the movie reproduction with smooth motion is made possible even from a group of the still images photographed by an electronics still camera and the like.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device comprises a first readout circuit configured to read out a signal from a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, a signal holding unit configured to hold the signal read out from the first readout circuit, a second readout circuit configured to read out the signal held in the signal holding unit, and a current control unit configured to control an electric current flowing through at least part of the first readout circuit while the first readout circuit reads out the signal. The current control unit controls an electric current flowing through the at least part of the first readout circuit in a moving image capturing mode to be smaller than an electric current flowing through the at least part of the first readout circuit in a still image capturing mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image capturing apparatus comprising an image capturing element configured to convert an optical image into an image signal, a signal processing unit configured to apply signal processing to the image signal and to output the processed image signal, a super-resolution processing unit configured to apply, when a still image of the object is to be captured during capturing of a moving image of the object, super-resolution processing for enhancing a resolution by compositing a plurality of image signals output from the signal processing unit, and outputting an image signal required to generate the still image of the object, and an APC correction unit configured to apply APC correction processing for emphasizing an edge of each of the image signal output from the signal processing unit and the image signal output from the super-resolution processing unit, and to output the processed image signal.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capturing and recording a moving image and a static image at the same time includes a converter converting an optical image of a subject into a pixel signal, performing decimation on the pixel signal and outputting the pixel signal that has been subjected to decimation when recording of the moving image is performed but recording of the static image is not performed, and outputting the pixel signal that has not been subjected to decimation when recording of the moving image and the static image is performed; an eliminating section performing decimation on the pixel signal output from the converter only when recording of the moving image and the static image is performed; a moving image data generator generating moving image data; a static image data generator generating static image data; and a recorder recording the moving image data and the static image data.

Abstract: An image apparatus includes an image capture unit that captures a moving image and generates moving image data corresponding to the moving image, a generating unit that generates predetermined image data which is embedded in the moving image data based on still image data corresponding to the still image; and an encryption unit that encrypts the predetermined image data and the still image data if the image capture unit is instructed to capture the still image during capturing of the moving image.

Abstract: According to an electronic camera capable of capturing a still image during capturing of a moving image, by storing the zoom lens position information at that time when capturing of the moving image is temporarily stopped for capturing of the still image and using the field angle information or the like recorded after capturing of the still image is terminated, the zoom lens can be automatically returned to the original zoom position so as to prevent the generation of an uncomfortable feeling between the moving image before capturing of the still image and the moving image of which capturing is restarted just after termination of the still image capturing.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus performing moving-image data processing and still-image data processing in parallel includes an image pickup unit converting a ray into an electric signal and outputting an image pickup signal, a buffer unit temporarily storing the image pickup signal, a buffer controller controlling reading from the buffer unit, a first signal processing unit outputting a first transmission request, performing processing on the image pickup signal every frame timing in response to the first transmission request, and outputting moving-image data, and a second signal processing unit outputting a second transmission request, performing processing on the image pickup signal in response to the second transmission request at a predetermined timing, and outputting still-image data. The buffer controller determines whether it is possible that the image pickup signal is read without deteriorating continuity based on a data storage state of the buffer unit and the first and second transmission requests.

Abstract: Providing an imaging apparatus and a microscope capable of taking two-dimensional images of a sample at a plurality of observation positions different in the optical axis direction at the same time. The apparatus includes an image-forming lens 15 that forms images of a sample 4 on a plurality of image-forming places; an optical-path-dividing member 17, 18, 19 that divides an optical path from the same area in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the sample 4 so as to form the plurality of image-forming places; and an optical-path-length-changing member 27, 28, 29 that is provided on at least one optical path between the plurality of image-forming places and the imaging lens 15.

Abstract: A method for displaying image data in a portable terminal is provided, in which the type of a moving picture is displayed by using previously stored item display data. The method includes photographing a moving picture in a moving picture photographing mode and adding one of frames of the photographed moving picture as item display data to the photographed moving picture and storing the photographed moving picture, if moving picture storage is selected during photographing.