Abstract: An image signal processing device of the present invention includes an RGB-YC conversion for converting color component signals output from a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor to luminance signals and components thereof lying in a high frequency range. The luminance signals and their components lying in a high frequency range are fed to a first, a second and a third low pass filter (LPF), respectively. Luminance signals output from a third LPF are fed to an adder while components lying in a high frequency range are fed from the first LPF to a selector. Further, the components output from the second LPF are fed to the selector via a resolution correcting section. The selector selects either one of the two different kinds of components input thereto. The adder adds the luminance signals output from the third LPF and the components selected by the selector and thereby outputs second luminance signals.

Abstract: In the field of imaging, various components may contribute to a loss in resolution at higher spatial frequencies, both horizontally and vertically. Higher spatial frequencies may occur at the edge of an image, where there may be a large transition in the signal output between adjacent pixels. To compensate, an edge enhancement method that produces overshoots in the transitions of the video image signal is used. One of the problems with the edge enhancement method is that the noise in the input signal may not be adequately suppressed. To suppress the background noise in the video image signal while still performing the desired edge enhancement function, biasing circuitry may be used to suppress the smaller transitions in the input signal. In particular, the biasing circuitry may be placed in the signal path between the output of a first delay line and the noninverting inputs of two of the signal amplifiers.

Abstract: A method determines a surface of an object in a sequence of images. The method begins by estimating a boundary of the object in each image of the sequence using motion information of adjacent images of the sequence. Then, portions of each image of the sequence are ordered to produce an ordered sequence of images. The ordered portions are exterior to the estimated object boundary. Edges in each ordered image are filtered using the motion information, and each ordered image of the sequence is searched to locate the filtered edges to form a new boundary outside the estimated boundary. The filtering and searching are repeated, while projecting the new object boundaries over the sequence of images, until the new object boundaries converges to a surface of the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing circuit and an image processing method, and is applied to, for example, a video camera, an electronic still camera and the like, for compressing the dynamic range at a high compression rate with evading the lowering of an impression concerning the contrast and the unnatural edge emphasis. The present invention smoothes an input image X while preserving the edge to obtain a gain correction coefficient, and corrects the pixel value x(i, j) of the input image X with the gain correction coefficient.

Abstract: A system is provided for enabling a pulse width modulator to render video data for a laser at a frequency independent of the operating frequency of the pulse width modulator. The system includes phase measuring circuitry, edge output determining circuitry, edge location circuitry, and a summer. The phase measuring circuitry is operative to detect a phase offset on a scan line for a laser. The edge output determining circuitry is operative to determine which system clock cycle to output an edge on the system clock to act as if it were on a video clock. The edge location circuitry is operative to locate placement of an edge for a given pixel. The summer communicates with the phase measuring circuitry, the edge output determining circuitry, and the edge location circuitry. The summer is operative to combine values from the phase measuring circuitry, the edge output determining circuitry, and the edge location circuitry to generate a desired video signal. A method is also provided.

Abstract: Of three-color signals R′, G′ and B′, obtained as output signals of multipliers 156R, 156G and 156B, designed to effectuate luminance compression of the three-color signals R, G and B sent to input terminals 151R, 151G and 151B by multiplying the signals R, G and B with a coefficient k, in such a manner as to maintain saturation and color hue of the three-color signals R, G and B, only the saturation of color video signals represented by the three-color signals R′, G′ and B′ is compressed by first saturation compression circuits 160R, 160G and 160B so that the signal level of the signal of the three-color signals R′, G′ and B′ having the highest signal level will be the clip level.

Abstract: In a sharpening process of image data using a Laplacian operation, a parameter k for controlling the size of a Laplacian to be subtracted from an original image, a parameter &thgr; for suppressing influences of noise and a parameter &lgr; for suppressing an overshoot and an undershoot are respectively provided, and these parameters are altered in accordance with the state of an original image. Thus, it becomes possible to carry out the sharpening process on the image data without causing emphasized noise and occurrences of an overshoot and an undershoot.

Abstract: Light from a subject is divided by an optical system, one of which is focused on a receiving surface of a first image sensing device. The first image sensing device generates pixel information having low pixel density and multi-value for the image of the subject. The other light is transmitted to outline extracting means to generate an outline image. The outline image is picked up by a second image sensing device to generate binary pixel information having high pixel density for the outline image. The pixel information of the image and the pixel information of the outline are transmitted to an image reproduction processor via a data processor compose an image of high pixel density.

Abstract: An image display method displays an image by different gradation conversion in every pixel, on the basis of gradation frequency distribution of luminance of pixels near an edge of the image, and counting of gradation frequency of luminance of pixels near the edge is weighted depending on the coordinate values of each pixel so as to eliminate relative contrast drop in the image central part from the image peripheral parts.

Abstract: In a fine photo mode, a camera photographs a series of frames from the same scene upon one depression of a release button, and records data of correlation between the frames of the same scene in association with the series of frames. When a printer reads the correlation data, the printer composes a high definition image from image data of the series of frames, and makes a print of the high definition image. A literal photo mode may be selected for a scene containing a literal image. The camera records data representative of the literal photo mode in association with the frame taken in the literal photo mode, so the printer processes image data to improve sharpness and resolution of the literal image of the frame, and makes a hard copy of the literal image from the processed image data.

Abstract: A sharpness processing method and apparatus, and a storage medium storing a program, for presenting images with increased perspective or three-dimensional effect. At least two points are designated in a direction of distance on an original image displayed on a display screen. The original image is divided by lines extending perpendicular to and touching opposite ends of a vector defined by the two points. An output image in the proper perspective is obtained by applying no processing to a near view area in the original image, applying a uniformly strong blur processing to a distant view area, and processing an intermediate area in a way to increase blur gradually in the direction indicated by the vector.

Abstract: Video camera which emphasizes an outline of a video signal produced thereby. A detail signal of a video image represented by the video signal is generated and which represents a vertical outline emphasis signal. Edges of the video image and burst-like portions of the video signal are detected, and an edge detection signal is generated that corresponds in one manner to the detected edges and that corresponds in another manner to the detected burst portions. The detail signal is adjusted by the edge detection signal or by a cross color suppression signal generated from the vertical outline emphasis signal. The video signal then is modified by the adjusted detail signal so as to produce the outline emphasized video signal. The detail signal may also be adjusted by a gain setting signal that corresponds to the vertical outline emphasis signal and which is compressed in level when the vertical outline emphasis signal is relatively low.

Abstract: A gradation compensation circuit for gradation compensating the luminance level of the image signal is disclosed. An image evaluator evaluates the amount of backlighting and normal lighting in the overall image, and defines the degree of gradation compensation to be applied by the gradation compensation circuit according to the result of image evaluation. An AGC circuit maintains the overall luminance of the image constant. When the AGC control signal applied to the AGC circuit is high, the degree of compensation is suppressed, but when the AGC control signal is low, the degree of compensation is used without being suppressed.

Abstract: Horizontal and vertical registration errors in a color television camera are automatically error corrected by detecting registration errors in live scenes. Each error is associated with the preselected region of the raster in which it was detected. The errors are separately collected for each region. An error waveform is generated from collected error values. The past history of registration errors is also used. A correction waveform is generated to correct the registration error by minimizing the error waveform. This automatic registration system is microprocessor controlled.

Abstract: An apparatus which enhances the visual contrast between bright and dark features of an object by projecting an image of the object onto the object. The features of the projected object image overlay the features of the object such that an observer of the enhanced object senses that the bright features are brighter and the dark features remain the same. A light source illuminates the object, a video imaging means, such as a video camera, creates a video signal representative of the object image, and a video projector receives the video signal from the video camera and projects a visual image of the object. A filter prevents video projector light from reaching the video imaging means, thereby eliminating positive feedback. A preferred apparatus includes a beam separator which causes the image projected from the video projector to illuminate the object from the same perspective that the video imaging means views the object.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method wherein the apparatus has an input unit for inputting input image information of image data and output device information of an output device which outputs the image data and an image processing unit for subjecting the image data to an aperture correction process in accordance with the input image information and output device information.

Abstract: A video camera capable of controlling white balance according to the color temperature of an object comprises an image pickup device, an edge detecting means for detecting a vertical edge in a signal provided by the image pickup device, a primary color generating means for generating three primary color signals from the signal provided by the image pickup device, and a color temperature calculating means for calculating the color temperature of the object from three primary color signals provided by the primary color generating circuit. The color temperature calculating means reduces the effect of the three primary color signals given thereto by the primary color generating means on calculation when the level of a vertical edge signal is high.

Abstract: A circuit for enhancing chrominance transitions in a received chrominance video signal comprises a linear-phase digital filter supplied with an input stream of discrete chromatic image elements. The filter also has a high-pass transfer characteristic in a region of the frequency spectrum corresponding to an upper limit of a transmitted chrominance signal bandwidth for enhancing high-frequency components of the received chrominance signal. The circuit additionally includes non-linear digital post-processing circuitry which accepts as input an output of the filter and the input stream of discrete chromatic image elements. The non-linear post-processing circuitry acts on the output of the filter to eliminate distortions introduced in the received chrominance signal by the filter. The post-processing circuitry then detects if the received chrominance signal contains a transition pattern corresponding to predetermined patterns.

Abstract: A video camera and an image enhancing apparatus which can add details without deteriorating an S/N ratio near the black level are provided. The video camera is constructed by: an image pickup device for photographing an object and generating a video signal; a signal level detecting circuit for detecting a signal level of DC components of the video signal; a detail signal forming circuit for forming a detail signal to correct an outline of an image which is expressed by the video signal by extracting partial frequency components in the video signal from the video signal; a control unit for controlling the detail signal forming circuit on the basis of an output of the signal level detecting circuit in a manner such that as a signal level of the DC components is low, frequency of the detail signal to be formed by the detail signal forming circuit becomes lower; and a mixing circuit for mixing the detail signal to the video signal.

Abstract: The amount of edge enhancement outputted from an amount-of-edge-enhancement computing circuit is determined on the basis of the degree of sharpness of the edge independently of a zoom magnification. In the meantime, in an enhancement coefficient computing circuit, an enhancement coefficient according to the zoom magnification is computed. In a multiplier, the output from the amount-of-edge-enhancement computing circuit (the amount of edge enhancement) is multiplied by the output from the enhancement coefficient computing circuit (the enhancement coefficient). The resultant amount of edge correction is outputted from the multiplier. Accordingly, the amount of edge correction outputted from the multiplier takes a value according to the zoom magnification. According to this arrangement, enhancement processing which does not bring about overcorrection or unprocessing can be applied to the edge portion of an image enlarged by electronic zoom.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device which uses a video aperture signal in low contrast situations includes an extraction circuit for extracting a signal corresponding to a degree of focus from an input image signal. A focus control circuit is provided for detecting a focus state from the signal extracted from the extraction circuit, and for providing a driving signal for driving a focusing lens on the basis of the results of the detection. A determination circuit is provided for determining whether the image signal has a low contrast. An aperture signal extraction circuit extracts a video aperture signal from the input image signal. Control circuitry is provided for supplying the aperture signal output from the aperture signal extraction circuit to the focus control circuit on the basis of the results of the determination by the determination circuit.

Abstract: A line contour enhancing circuit comprises a second order differentiation circuit for effecting a second order differentiation to a video signal and producing a second order differentiation signal, an adding circuit for adding the video signal and the second order differentiation signal, and a non-linear amplifier having a gain characteristic in which a differentiation gain increases gradually as the level of its input signal increases. The circuit features that the second order differentiation circuit receives the video signal output from the non-linear amplifier, thereby the line contour enhancing operation is effected depending on the level of the video signal. With this arrangement the degradation of the image produced by a low luminance level video signal due to the presence of noises is prevented.

Abstract: In an image processing system, an outline correction of image data and a smoothing for noise removal are performed. Generally, the outline correction is performed by emphasizing a high frequency component, and the smoothing is performed by removing the high frequency component. Within one image data, by properly switching the emphasizing and the removal of the high frequency component, while the outline correction is carried out, the noise removal can be performed. An absolute value of a high frequency component Fa extracted from the image data Pi by a first differential filter is compared with a discrimination threshold value K, and depending on the comparison result, either Fa or -Fa as the correction data Fo is selected by a selector and is added to the image data Pi. As a result, when Fo=Fa, the high frequency component is emphasized, and when Fo=-Fa, smoothing is performed. A pixel interpolation and a multi picture formation are also disclosed.

Abstract: A digital electronic still camera operable in a text mode for clearly shooting a bilevel image, e.g., characters printed or formed on a document. A luminance signal can be roughly corrected with respect to shading by a simple circuit arrangement. This corrects a decrease in the quantity of light in the peripheral portion of a frame and thereby renders characters or similar bilevel images in a picture highly legible.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus having a low-pass filter for detecting a luminance component of an image pickup signal and a band-pass filter for detecting a contour component of the image pickup signal, a digital system for performing a digital signal processing action is arranged to have the low-pass filter and the band-pass filter not cascade-connected to each other. The arrangement is such that the signal processing action is performed without bringing about any spurious contour, any deterioration in frequency characteristic, etc., due to place cancelling peculiar to a digital system. The apparatus reduces the possibility of deterioration of images, permits simplification of circuit arrangement, permits reduction in electric energy consumption and in scale of the circuit, and thus facilitates adoption of an integrated circuit arrangement.

Abstract: An interlacing television camera apparatus includes a solid-state imaging device, drive unit, delay unit, and vertical-edge correcting unit. The drive unit drives the imaging unit to simultaneously output, in a first field, a main video signal and a sub-video signal i.e., even and odd numbered lines, respectively, in a first field from the device, which represent a charge accumulated in a pixel located on a scanning line of the first field and a charge accumulated in a pixel located on a scanning line of a second field next to the first field, respectively. Next, the drive unit drives the imaging device to simultaneously output, in the second field, a main video signal and a sub-video signal in a second field from the device, which represent the charge accumulated in the pixel located on the scanning line of the second field and a charge accumulated in a pixel located on a scanning line of a first field next to the second field, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting a vertical aperture of an image generates a vertical aperture correction signal having no line pair component contained therein from a signal read out at every frame from an imaging apparatus using an imaging device of pixel mixing system, the circuit arrangement for realizing the vertical aperture correcting apparatus being such that an original signal, a 2H (H is a horizontal scanning period) delay signal and a 4H delay signal are generated from the imaging device and a sum of the original signal and the 4H delay signal is subtracted from the 2H delay signal to thereby generate a vertical aperture correction signal and also the circuit arrangement being such that luminance signal spectral characteristics are approximated at every horizontal scanning by adjusting a gain of a signal read out from the imaging device.

Abstract: To improve pictures to be displayed on a display screen of a display device, it is known to use scan velocity modulation. In scan velocity modulation the (horizontal) deflection rate of the electron beam(s) is modulated with the luminance component of the video signal. As a result of scan velocity modulation, the information of the video signal will no longer be displayed at the correct position on the display screen. By using the modulation signal applied to the scan velocity modulator also for modulating the (read) clock rate of the video signal from the memory, it can be ensured that the video signal and the (modulated) deflection signal are always in synchronism with each other.

Abstract: An electronic still camera for recording stationary images comprises a light metering device for light-metering a plurality of portions of an object to be photographed and outputting a plurality of signals corresponding to the quantities of light of the portions, an image pickup device for converting the image of the object to be photographed into an image signal, a contour enhancing device provided with a plurality of selectable contour enhancement degrees and enhancing the contour of the image signal, and a selecting device for effecting calculation on the basis of the outputs from the light metering device and selecting one of the plurality of contour enhancement degrees provided in the contour enhancing device on the basis of the result of the calculation.

Abstract: An optical system is described including an array of photodetectors, each photodetector having a surface, and a focusing system employing a liquid crystal phased array for focusing a beam of electromagnetic energy on the surface of at least one of the photodetectors. The focusing system further includes a focus-defocus technique for periodically defocusing the beam of electromagnetic energy on the surface of at least one of the photodetectors. With such an arrangement, a focusing system is provided wherein fixed pattern noise can be decreased.

Abstract: The invention relates to benzimidazoles of general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.4 are as defined herein, the 1-, 3-isomer mixtures thereof and the addition salts thereof. The new compounds are useful, in particular, as angiotensin antagonists.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a discriminating circuit for determining a compression ratio of an image signal input thereto, the image signal being compressed in a horizontal direction. An aperture correction control circuit is provided for controlling frequency characteristics of an aperture correcting circuit in response to the output of the discriminating circuit. Correction characteristics in an expanded image signal to be output are made equivalent to frequency characteristics of an aperture correction operation to be conducted on a television signal having a predetermined aspect ratio.

Abstract: In a video camera having three image pickup devices in which a pixel of one channel of channels forming three primary colors is spatially displaced from other pixels of two channels by 1/2 pixel, when three primary color signals output from the three image pickup devices are converted into digital three primary color signals, an aperture signal is formed from the digital three primary color signals, the aperture signal output is added to the digital three primary color signals and a digital video signal of a predetermined format is formed from the added signal, a clock frequency of an aperture signal forming circuit is set to be twice the clock frequencies of the image pickup devices, an A/D converting circuit and a video signal forming circuit.

Abstract: An image signal processing device includes a logarithmic compression circuit, filtering circuit, filtering characteristic setting circuit and dynamic range/gain control circuit. The logarithmic compression circuit subjects an input image signal containing a color signal to the logarithmic compression. The filtering circuit serves to filter the input image signal. The filtering characteristic setting circuit adaptively sets the band pass characteristic of the filtering circuit according to the feature of the input image signal. The dynamic range/gain control circuit controls the dynamic range and gain of the filtered input image signal.

Abstract: Video signal processing apparatus for use with a video camera having a line scanning line period during which useful video information is provided and a flyback period during which an optical black signal level is provided. Replacement black signal information that is a function of the optical black signal level is inserted into a portion of the flyback period. When the camera is of the type having a complementary color matrix filter which produces odd and even raster scan lines of image pickup signals with different modulation components, another aspect of this invention provides improved contour correction. Modulation components in a scan line of image pickup signals caused by the patterns of filter elements included in the matrix are removed, thereby producing an averaged scan line of image signals from which is extracted a signal component that is uncorrelated from one line to the next.

Abstract: A video camera is comprised of an aperture correcting signal generating circuit for generating an aperture correcting signal from a video signal of a picked-up image, and a nonlinear processing circuit for comparing the video signal with a reference voltage modulated by the aperture correcting signal and compressing the video signal at its high brightness portion higher than the reference voltage when the video signal is higher than the reference voltage.