Abstract: A projector includes: an imaging structure that photographs an image projected on a projection object to take a photographed image; an imaging control module that performs exposure adjustment in the imaging structure to attain a preset target exposure; a control module that sets the target exposure in the imaging ctrl module; an angle information acquisition module that obtains angle information representing an inclination of the projector to the projection object; and a storage unit that stores a map representing a variation in target exposure against the angle information. The control module controls the angle information acquisition module to obtain the angle information, refers to the map stored in the storage unit to specify a target exposure corresponding to the obtained angle information, and sets the specified target exposure in the imaging control module.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating transfer curves for adaptive contrast enhancement. Transfer curves are generated so as to enhance the bright pixels in mostly dark images and the dark pixels in mostly bright images. For a dark image, a transfer curve is generated which increases luminance in high-luminance regions of the image without substantially changing the luminance in the mid- and low-luminance regions of the image. For a bright image, a transfer curve is generated which decreases the luminance in the dark areas of the image without substantially changing the luminance in the mid- and high-luminance regions of the image. For a medium-bright image, a transfer curve is generated with increases the luminance in the high-luminance range and decreases the luminance in the low-luminance range of the histogram without substantially changing the luminance in the medium-luminance range of the image.

Abstract: The present invention is an image processing method of processing an image data using an image file. The image file includes the image data and image processing control information being used for processing the image data. The method comprises the steps of: (a) determining a degree of auto adjustment for adjusting lightness and contrast of the image data according to lightness of a whole image expressed by the image data, based on the image processing control information; and (b) performing the auto adjustment based on the determination.

Abstract: An image processing device and method which is provided with means for converting image data from an image sensor into image data emphasizing a change in brightness in each of plural divisions of a whole luminous area by using a conversion table and which is therefore capable of easily and immediately enhancing the contrast of an image taken by an image sensor possessing a wide dynamic range of its logarithmic output characteristic.

Abstract: A focus control device includes a lens unit including a focus lens; a focus lens driving mechanism that moves the focus lens to achieve an in-focus state; a focus status detector that detects a focus status acquired by the focus lens; a drive control unit that controls the focus lens driving mechanism so that the detected focus status is the in-focus state; a change detector that detects that an evaluation value for focus control has changed by a threshold value or more; and an execution control unit that waits in a state in which the drive control unit does not control the focus lens driving mechanism for a waiting time starting from a time when the change detector detects that the evaluation value has changed by the predetermined threshold value or more, and that causes the drive control unit to control the focus lens driving mechanism when the state in which the evaluation value has changed by the predetermined threshold value or more is maintained until the waiting time has elapsed.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a CCD imager. If brightness of an object is not enough, a frame rate of the CCD imager at a time of a focus adjustment is changed from 30 fps to 15 fps. This also lowers a reading speed of a camera signal, and reduces noise included in the camera signal. An AF evaluation value is acquired by integrating a high frequency component of a Y signal generated on the basis of the camera signal, and therefore, high noise causes an error in the AF evaluation value and fails to correctly adjust focus. This is the reason why the driving speed of the CCD imager is lowered when the brightness of the object is not enough.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus, an image capturing method, and a computer-readable medium storing program for correcting appropriately an image for each area independently. A digital camera for capturing a subject includes an image pick-up unit for capturing a first image of the subject using an electric flash flashing at a first flash intensity, and a second image of the subject using the electric flash flashing at a second flash intensity; a distance judging unit for judging distance to a first partial subject out of the subject based on the first image and the second image; and an image correction unit for correcting a first partial image of the first partial subject, which is a part of the first image based on the distance to the first partial subject judged by the distance judging unit.

Abstract: A solid-state video camera is equipped with pixel addition logic such that, if the measured object brightness falls below a certain threshold value, a brightening of the image is effected without increasing the noise component accepting a loss in real-time representation. The pixel addition by way of the pixel addition logic is coupled to the gain control of the camera in a manner such that, in each case, the gain control compensates for jumps in brightness which arise by way of the pixel addition and creates for the user a flowing transition without noticeable jumps in brightness.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically adjusting and/or optimizing the color and/or intensity of the illuminating light used in a vision system is presented. The intensity of each of a plurality of illuminating light colors is allowed to be independently adjusted to adapt the illumination light based on the color of a part feature against the part feature background of a part being viewed by the vision system to produce high contrast between the part feature and background. Automated contrast optimization may be achieved by stepping through all available color combinations and evaluating the contrast between the part feature and background to select a color combination having a “best” or acceptable contrast level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for auto-exposure control in a scene under artificial illumination that synchronizes the exposure control algorithm and final image capture with the intensity variations in the artificial illumination.

Abstract: A method increases the spatial resolution of a source image based on an auxiliary, co-registered image of a higher spatial resolution. Each of the source and auxiliary images includes a plurality of pixels with corresponding spectral intensities and the method includes reducing, identifying, deriving, subdividing and modifying steps. Multiple auxiliary images can be used with the method. In the reducing step, a spatial resolution of the auxiliary image is reduced to a common resolution with the source image. Then in the identifying step, corresponding groups of pixels at the common resolution in the source and auxiliary images are identified. Then in the deriving step, a mapping function is derived which relates the rate of change of intensity of each group in the auxiliary image and the corresponding rate of change of intensity in the corresponding group in the source image to the intensity vector. This map can be conditioned on any number of auxiliary image planes.

Abstract: An image processing method for the adjustment of photographic contrast which utilizes a user interface to display digital image data captured by an image processing apparatus, and allows the user to adjust the set value of the image data and then to store this adjusted value in a parameter setting memory. This enables the apparatus to calculate the contrast characteristics parameter according to the adjusted value, store it in a control parameter memory and to drive a signal converter unit to convert and encode the analog signals transmitted from a image sensing device into digital image data according to the contrast characteristics parameter value stored in the control parameter memory. The apparatus then stores the digital image data thus obtained in an output image memory and transmits the digital image data from the output image memory to the display of the user interface, enabling the contrast value of the imaging system being repeatedly adjusted to obtain the desired contrast in the image.

Abstract: An optical sensor device has an illuminating light source and an image sensor. The image sensor captures a sequence of images under exposure of light from the light source. A controller in the optical sensor device has a control output and generates an exposure time control signal on the control output. The controller includes an exposure time control loop. Each iteration of the loop includes the steps: calculating an error between a set value and an actual luminance condition value determined in a current image in the sequence of images; calculating a current exposure time as a function of the error and an exposure time calculated during the preceding iteration of the control loop; and generating the exposure time control signal on the control output based on the current exposure time. The exposure time may thereby be determined so as to yield optimum contrast in an image which is to be captured by the image sensor.

Abstract: Correlation value calculation is carried out while a pair of window ranges being shifted using uncorrected AF data, and a pair of window ranges providing the highest correlation value is determined. Then, the difference between the smallest values in the respective window ranges is evaluated. If it is determined that the distance is large, the AF data is corrected so that the smallest values in the respective window ranges are consistent with each other, and the corrected AF data is used to carry out correlation value recalculation. Then, if the highest correlation value after correction is smaller than the highest correlation value before correction, the result of correlation value calculation after correction is employed.

Abstract: An exposure control device having a light measuring area setting circuit which sets a light measuring area on an image sensing plane, a discriminating circuit which discriminates from each other varied states of the image sensing plane through video signal parts corresponding to the inside and the outside of the light measuring area and an exposure compensating circuit which compensates the state of exposure to light is arranged to shift the set position of the light measuring area to trace an object's image at least when the exposure compensating circuit is in operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for displaying a combined image of an auxiliary image and a main image includes a source of a main image signal and a source of samples representing an auxiliary image signal. A quincunx subsampler is coupled to the auxiliary image sample source and the quincunx subsampler. The sample combiner combines the main image signal and a signal representing the quincunx subsampled samples to generate a signal representing a combined image of the main and auxiliary images.

Abstract: A technique for backlight compensation in a monitoring camera performs automatic backlight compensation without any need for manually redesignating a backlight compensation area, despite changes in ambient illumination, by selecting the most appropriate backlight compensation area for changes in the ambient illumination and the movement of an object from among a plurality of predetermined backlight compensation areas and controlling an iris on the basis of the luminance signal level of the selected backlight compensation area, to thereby control the luminance signal level.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a picked-up image signal, an electronic image magnification enlarging circuit for enlarging an image magnification of the subject by intermittently reading out the picked-up image signal outputted from the image pickup element and varying an image read-out area of an image plane, an exposure control circuit for executing exposure control on the basis of a result obtained by comparing a level of the picked-up image signal with a predetermined reference level, and a correcting circuit for correcting, according to the image magnification of the electronic image magnification enlarging circuit, a no-signal-containing portion produced by an operation of the electronic image magnification enlarging circuit and contained in the picked-up image signal to be supplied to the exposure control circuit.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device includes an image pickup device for outputting an image signal by performing photoelectric conversion of an image of an object, a band-pass filter for extracting a sharpness signal corresponding to the sharpness from among the image signal, a diaphragm for controlling the amount of light incident upon the image pickup device, and a control circuit for controlling prohibition of the drive of a focusing lens based on a change in the sharpness signal output from the band-pass filter and a change in the state of the diaphragm. It is thereby possible to exactly detect an operation, such as panning or the like, and to prevent the stop of the focusing lens at a defocused position caused by an erroneous operation by prohibiting the drive of the focusing lens when panning has been detected.

Abstract: A digital electronic camera has a first stroke switch and a second stroke switch. When the first stroke switch is pressed, adjustment of focus, coarse adjustment of exposure and detection of light-source flicker are detected using a signal from an image sensing device such as a CCD. When the second stroke switch is pressed, main exposure is performed in accordance with the conditions that have been set. Thus, adjustment of focus and exposure can be performed by relying solely upon the image sensing device and without using various sensors. Moreover, processing is completed in a short period of time by the second stroke switch, which is pressed following the first stroke switch. As a result, focus and exposure adjustments can be carried out in a short period of time using solely an image sensing device without relying upon a rangefinder sensor and photometric sensor, and release time lag can be reduced.

Abstract: A zone for measuring distance is enlarged by adding an area where a contrast ratio is relatively high in the case of the photographing against the light. Thus, the sensitivity for judging a contrast ratio is increased and improper focusing is prevented. The brightness when an evaluative value is a maximum and the brightness at a moment when the evaluative value is not at maximum, for example when it is at a minimum, are compared. If the difference of brightness becomes too large, the maximum evaluative value is ignored and the detection is repeated. The determination of when the difference in brightness is too large is made to be dependent on parameters such as gain of the AGC circuit, gain of the amplifier and iris opening which affect the noise in the evaluative value so as to more accurately judge when the when the maximum evaluative value should be ignored.

Abstract: An exposure control device having a light measuring area setting circuit which sets a light measuring area on an image sensing plane, a discriminating circuit which discriminates from each other varied states of the image sensing plane through video signal parts corresponding to the inside and the outside of the light measuring area and an exposure compensating circuit which compensates the state of exposure to light is arranged to shift the set position of the light measuring area to trace an object's image at least when the exposure compensating circuit is in operation.

Abstract: In response to data supplied from a system controller, a display microcomputer of a television receiver produces a display in a sub-screen of the cathode-ray tube of a main menu corresponding to the numerous operating functions of which the television receiver is capable. Some of these functions include a picture-in-picture function, a satellite broadcast receiving function, and a picture-recording reservation function. When a user of the television receiver selects an item on the main menu corresponding to the picture-in-picture function by using a remote controller, the system controller controls an audio video switch, the picture-in-picture circuit, and a display microcomputer to provide two picture-in-picture sub-screens displayed simultaneously. One sub-screen contains a sub-screen menu to enable the user to set parameters relative to the picture displayed in the other sub-screen.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the opening and closing of a camcorder iris diaphragm including a luminance signal detector for detecting a luminance signal from an image signal of an object received therein, a buffer for buffering the luminance signal from the luminance signal detector, a signal converter for converting the luminance signal from the buffer into a DC signal having a mean value level of the luminance signal, a differential amplifier for amplifying a level difference between the DC signal from the signal converter and a predetermined reference signal, a motor driver for receiving an output signal from the differential amplifier, as a negative (-) drive voltage signal, and a predetermined motor voltage signal, as a positive (+) drive voltage signal, and applying a level difference therebetween as a motor drive voltage signal to an iris motor, and a clipper connected for blocking the DC signal from the signal converter to the differential amplifier when its level is above a predetermined level and pass