Abstract: A flash device includes a stationary frame, a light emitting portion, a driving unit and a resilient plate. The light emitting portion is moveably received in the stationary frame and is spaced from the stationary frame. The driving unit includes a first magnetic assembly and a second magnetic assembly. The first magnetic assembly is positioned on the stationary frame. The second magnetic assembly is positioned on the light emitting portion and faces the first magnetic assembly. The driving unit is configured for driving the light emitting portion to move relative to the stationary frame through magnetical interaction between the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly. The resilient plate interconnects the stationary frame and the light emitting portion. The resilient plate is configured for moving the light emitting portion relative to the stationary frame.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device which can prevent color mixture by using a layout of a capacitor region provided separately from a floating diffusion region and a camera using such a device are provided. A photodiode region is a rectangular region including a photodiode. A capacitor region includes a carrier holding unit and is arranged on one side of the rectangle of the photodiode region as a region having a side longer than the one side. In a MOS unit region, an output unit region including an output unit having a side longer than the other side which crosses the one side of the rectangle of the photodiode region is arranged on the other side. A gate region and the FD region are arranged between the photodiode region and the capacitor region.

Abstract: A method and camera for electronic image capture provide an electronic image capture device, a scanning aperture shutter located to control light energy received by the image capture device, a flash unit oriented to illuminate an image scene, a photocell unit adapted for sensing visible spectrum energy and infrared spectrum energy received from the image scene, and an exposure control system responsive to the photocell unit and operatively connected to the scanning aperture shutter and the flash unit. The exposure control system is adapted to control an amount of fill flash energy received from the image scene in relation to visible ambient light energy received from the image scene during image capture by illuminating the flash unit once a predetermined amount of ambient visible spectrum energy is sensed by the photocell unit and by extinguishing the flash unit once a predetermined amount of infrared energy is sensed by the photocell unit.

Abstract: An image pickup device provided with an electronic flash function including an image pickup unit configured to input image data corresponding to a subject, a face detection unit configured to detect a human face from the image data input from the image pickup unit, an electronic flashing unit configured to emit electronic flash light, and an electronic flash control unit configured to control the electronic flashing unit based on the detection result of the human face by the face detection unit.

Abstract: A digital camera including an imaging unit, a flash unit, a face detection unit that performs face detection on image data generated by the imaging unit, and an emission control unit that controls a redeye reduction emission and a main emission performed by the flash unit. The emission control unit obtains a result of face detection performed on image data generated at the time of the redeye reduction emission. Alternatively, it obtains one or more results of face detection performed on one or more sets of image data generated during the period after the time point when the redeye reduction emission is performed and before the time point when the main emission is performed. Otherwise, it obtains both of them. The emission control unit determines the emission amount for the main emission using one of the obtained face detection results.

Abstract: An image pickup device provided with an automatic exposure function includes an image pickup unit configured to input image data corresponding to a subject, a face detection unit configured to detect a human face from the image data input from the image pickup unit, a photometric unit configured to measure optical intensity, designating the human face detected by the face detection unit as a photometric area, and an exposure control unit configured to calculate the exposure based on the photometric result of the human face by the photometric unit, and to perform exposure control based on the calculated exposure.

Abstract: A portable electronic device having a main body, the device including a camera arrangement for capturing images in a plurality of directions relative to the main body of the device; a lighting element; and a reflector, at least a portion of which is movable about the lighting element to change the direction of light reflected from the lighting element.

Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed that includes an operations unit disposed in a device main body for input operations, and a camera unit including a camera for image capturing and a light source that emits light for image capturing. A light irradiation position of the light source is variable so that the light source illuminates the operations unit.

Abstract: A camera system including a camera having an image displaying unit that displays various images and an external flash device that is connected to the camera when in use. To the camera is connectable either a first external flash device whose light emission amount is settable according to an operation input to the first external flash device by a user or a second external flash device whose light emission amount is settable based on information on a light emission amount transmitted from the camera as the external flash device. The camera displays an image having a different content on the image display unit between when the first external flash device is connected thereto and when the second external flash device is connected thereto.

Abstract: A flash accessory device readily adaptable to most compact digital camera models provides a hand grip with a mounting base for attachment to the bottom of a compact digital camera. The hand grip contains a multi-mode digital pre-flash detector circuit, a wireless transmitter and a battery power source. An articulating arm extends from the hand grip and is adjustably movable relative to the front of the camera in order to position a sensor on the end of the articulating arm directly in front of the camera's built-in flash. A cup member surrounding the sensor covers the built-in flash to block light emitted by the built-in flash. Light from the built-in flash is detected by the sensor which triggers transmission of a wireless signal from the transmitter to a receiver in a remote flash device to thereby activate illumination of the remote flash in synchronization with activation of the built-in camera flash.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a semiconductor light-emitting device functioning as a strobe light having a current limitation unit for limiting current to flow to the semiconductor light-emitting device. The current limitation unit limits current to flow to the semiconductor light-emitting device under a predetermined condition for increasing a current consumption amount.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a main body having an image sensor, a flash apparatus having a flash unit installed to the main body to selectively protrude from the main body and to rotate in the protrusion, and a controller to determine whether to protrude the flash unit by determining whether the main body is disposed in an indoor location or in an outdoor location through an image sensor and locating a face of a person in a subject captured by the image sensor, and to control a flash direction by rotating the flash unit in accordance with surroundings of the face of the person in the subject image after protruding the flash unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image capture device that can omit calculating a pulse signal that should otherwise be used to get a flash fired during a flash-ON sequential shooting operation. An image capture device includes: an image capturing section configured to capture a subject's image; a flashing section configured to store electricity and emitting flash light using the electricity; a power supply configured to supply the electricity; and a control section configured to control the supply of the electricity to the flashing section. If the flashing section performs preliminary flashing and main flashing sequentially, the control section supplies no electricity to the flashing section after the preliminary flashing is done and before the main flashing is performed for a first time.

Abstract: An image-capturing system includes: an image-capturing device that captures an image of a subject; and an illumination device that illuminates the subject. The image-capturing device includes a control unit that calculates a light quantity needed to illuminate the subject based upon at least, either an exposure time or an aperture value and image-capturing sensitivity. The illumination device includes a current-controlled light emission unit that emits light used to illuminate the subject and a light emission control unit that controls the light emission unit so as to emit light in the light quantity calculated by the control unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for balancing the color of a flashed image using depth estimation. The apparatus includes a depth value measurement unit, a region identification unit, a color impression estimation unit, and a color balancing unit. The depth value measurement unit measures the depth values of the respective regions of an image to be captured using a camera preview image. The region identification unit identifies the regions of the preview image as a region influenced by camera flash or a region not influenced by camera flash using the depth values measured by the depth value measurement unit. The color impression estimation unit estimates the color impression of actual illumination in the region not influenced by camera flash. The color balancing unit corrects the color of the region influenced by camera flash.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix-like layout and containing photoelectric conversion devices reads signals in units of one line or a plurality of lines and is provide with an image sensing device 14 adapted to read a signal from a given block area. The apparatus has a flash read mode that, during flash operation, adjusts parameters relating to the readout of the image sensing device 14 so as to produce the same exposure period for all the plurality of lines that comprise a predetermined block area of the image sensing device 14, thus enabling accurate quantity of light detection even when performing strobe photography at high shutter speeds.

Abstract: A fluttering illumination system and method for encoding the appearance of a moving subject includes an image capturing device, a lens, a shutter, an illumination source, and a device to control illumination triggering and power. The image capturing device may be configured in a bulb shutter mode to integrate light patterns from the object upon the sensor via the shutter until a shutter release is open. The control device may be invoked to trigger several illuminations of varying power in a predetermined sequence by rapidly turning the illumination source on and off when the shutter release is open. The shutter release may then be closed following the firing of a last illumination in order to invertibly encode the appearance of the moving subject in a single image. Data indicative of a motion blur associated with the image may be estimated and the image processed to recover a sharp image without noise and ringing artifacts.

Abstract: An illumination device for photography includes: a light emission unit that emits illumination light towards a photographic subject; and a control unit that performs control so as to change a light emission luminance of the light emission unit within an exposure time period that is set to the camera.

Abstract: A protective cover assembly (40) for digital camera is used for an electronic device (100). The electronic device includes a main body (20) which has a recess portion (210) defined therein. A flash (70) is located in the recess portion. The protective cover assembly includes a cover (49) received in the recess portion. The cover includes a base (46) and a lighttight layer (48) formed on the base. A through hole (462) is defined in the cover, configured for allowing light emitted from the flash to pass the cover.

Abstract: An image taking system includes an image taking circuit which photographs the object upon receipt of a photographing instruction and obtains an image representing the object, a light emitting circuit which emits stroboscopic light, a photographing control circuit which controls the image taking circuit to execute a continuous photographing where a plurality of images are continuously taken including a plurality of images with following stroboscopic light, a stroboscopic light control circuit which controls the light emitting circuit to emit the stroboscopic light when photographing the images with following stroboscopic light, and an estimating circuit which estimates, when photographing the images with following stroboscopic light, the remaining energy in the charging unit after the photographing, on the basis of each light emission and the remaining energy in the charging unit upon the light emission.

Abstract: When a release button is pressed in the image adding mode and flash-on mode, a system control section instructs a timing generation section to continuously supply a timing signal to an imaging section, thereby causing the imaging section to perform high speed continuous shooting. A flash is caused to emit light in sync with taking the last one of images taken by the continuous shooting such that the amount of the emitted light results in underexposure for one image. The continuous images taken by the imaging section are sequentially output via a preprocessing section to a blurring correction section where the taken images are superimposed upon each other to obtain an image of appropriate exposure in which blurring has been corrected.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for redirecting or reflecting light from a camera's built-in flash unit. An exemplary device has a reflector member having a substantially planar surface, at least a portion of which is a reflective surface. A connecting member is provided that has a distal end portion and an opposing proximal end portion. The distal end portion can be attached to the reflector member and the proximal end portion can be configured for releasable mounting to a portion of the camera. The device can be operatively attached to the camera such that the reflector member is spaced from and opposes the flash and is configured to receive and reflect substantially all light produced from the flash.

Abstract: A digital camera (10) includes a face detecting section (74), a color temperature detecting section (76) and a flash device (86) having an LED array in which RGB LEDs are regularly arranged as a light source. When a shutter button (18) is pressed halfway, the face detecting section (74) reads out image data of a through image from a memory (60) and detects a person's face in the image. A CPU (64) identifies a scene based on brightness values of face and surrounding areas as, for example, a backlit scene, and specifies a face peripheral area according to an exposure pattern corresponding to the backlit scene. When the shutter button (18) is fully pressed, the CPU (64) sends a flash projection command to an LED control circuit (87), thereby illuminating the LEDs corresponding to the face peripheral area. By controlling illumination of the RGB LEDs, the LED control circuit (87) directs to project the flash light having color temperature that corrects the person's face color into an appropriate skin color.

Abstract: A device may include an image capturing assembly to frame an image of a subject for capturing; and a processor to automatically identify a shadow or a reflection corresponding to a user of the device in the framed image. The image capturing assembly is configured to capture the image following the automatic identification of the shadow or the reflection. The processor is configured to perform one of: adjusting the image capturing assembly based on the automatic identification of the shadow or the reflection prior to the capturing of the image, or modifying the captured image based on the automatic identification of the shadow or the reflection.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that enables shooting with a light emission device. An image pickup unit accumulates electric charge corresponding to an incident light. A mechanical shutter runs from an impervious position that blocks the incident light to the image pickup unit to a pervious position. An accumulation control unit controls a start timing of the accumulation of electric charge by the image pickup unit. A determination unit determines whether a communication with the light emission device is possible. A control unit controls the mechanical shutter to start running from the impervious position to the pervious position before the determination unit determines that the communication with the light emission device is possible, and controls the accumulation control unit to start accumulation of electric charge after the determination unit determines that the communication with the light emission device is possible, when shooting with the light emission device.

Abstract: This digital broadcast recording device includes a tuner unit, a channel table recording unit, an image output unit, an OSD generation unit, an actuation unit, and a channel presetting unit. The channel table recording unit records a channel table. An auto presetting unit sets virtual channels. If the number of a virtual channel is duplicated upon several physical channels, the channel presetting unit commands the OSD generation unit to display an OSD to the effect that this number is duplicated. And, when the actuation unit has received a predetermined actuation input, the channel presetting unit searches for a vacant channel.

Abstract: A camera includes: a light emission unit that emits illumination light; an amount of emitted light control unit that, during photography using the illumination light, controls the amount of illumination light to be emitted during photography based upon the amount of light reflected back from the photographic subject during a preliminary emission of light; and a color temperature control unit that controls the color temperature of the illumination light during the preliminary light emission, based upon color information for ambient light.

Abstract: An image pick-up device includes a camera body; a lens barrel mounted to the camera body; a pop-up type flash device that is retracted in the camera body when not in use and projected from the camera body when in use; and a structure including a gripping surface provided by one side surface of the camera body and an open portion provided in a given surface that extends between a front end of the gripping surface and a front part of the lens barrel. The flash device is retracted in the camera body through the open portion when not in use and projected sideward to the outside of the camera body through the open portion when in use.

Abstract: A backlight photographing method is applicable in a digital camera. In the backlight photographing method, a backlight detection program is first executed to obtain a backlight flag. Next, when the backlight flag is in a backlight status, a flash is emitted and a photo is photographed. In addition, photographing parameters of the digital camera may be adjusted according to a low brightness characteristic value acquired by the backlight detection program, so as to obtain a photo having a foreground with a preferred exposure effect.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing and a window. The housing includes a first through hole and a second through hole. The window is attached to the housing. The window includes a first transparent portion corresponding to the first through hole, a second transparent portion corresponding to the second through hole, and a wall surrounding the first through hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides synchronization and control between the wavelength of a multi-wavelength illuminator and the image frames acquired by a video camera. In accordance with the present invention, the trailing edge of a camera expose-signal triggers a pre-loaded digital value to be output from a FIFO buffer. The digital value selects a particular illumination wavelength either directly or through a voltage from a digital to analog converter. The FIFO may be periodically refilled, or it may be a circular register.

Abstract: A method for assist in focal length detection is adapted to a digital camera having a flash. The method includes the following steps. First, the flash of the digital camera is actuated and an image having a face portion is captured. Afterwards, an exposure feature value of the face portion in the image is calculated. A focus range comparison table is looked up according to the exposure feature value to obtain an initial focus position. Then, a focus procedure is performed according to the initial focus position to obtain a target focal length. After the target focal length is obtained, a flash feature value of the image is further calculated, and a guide number (GN) and a diaphragm value are set according to the flash feature value.

Abstract: A photo illumination technology that facilitates user selectable illumination of an existing photo ranging from full artificial flash illumination to ambient light illumination and every gradation between. The technology in one embodiment employs a digital camera feature that captures two photos hundredths of a second apart where one photo is captured in concert with a flash and one is captured with no flash. Compensations are made to reconcile any movement of the subject matter that may have occurred between the two photos and the user is presented with the infinite gradations of illumination on the subject matter when selecting a photo for display or printing.

Abstract: An imaging device, such as a digital camera, has a mechanism for compensating an image blur caused by hand jiggling and is capable of consecutively shooting, through one operation of a shutter operation section (36), frames of an image in a state where the mechanism (20) is operational and in a state where the mechanism is not operational.

Abstract: A commander flash apparatus for use in a wireless flash system which continuously emits light from the commander flash apparatus, transmits from the commander flash apparatus to a slave flash apparatus the data corresponding to the emission time interval of the commander flash apparatus, and controls the flash emission of a slave flash apparatus includes: a data setting unit for setting emission control data for control of the emission of the slave flash apparatus and emission amount determination data for determination of an amount of emission of the slave flash apparatus as the transmission data; and a data transmission control unit for controlling the emission of the commander flash apparatus so that the emission time interval per bit of the digital data configuring the emission control data can be longer than the emission time interval per bit of the digital data configuring the emission amount determination data.

Abstract: Two photography operations are performed without emitting flash during a second photography operation, to obtain image signals P1 and P2. A flash influence signal value F1 is calculated in image signal P1. A flash influence signal value F2, which is the amount of influence due to flash in the case that flash was emitted during the second photography operation, is calculated based on the differences between the imaging conditions of the first photography operation and the second photography operation and the flash influence signal value F1. An image signal P2?, which is an image signal which is estimated to be obtained in the case that flash was emitted during the second photography operation, is obtained by adding flash influence signal value F2 to image signal P2 obtained by the second photography operation. A dynamic range expanded image signal Pc is calculated based on image signal P1 and image signal P2?.

Abstract: The present invention provides a white balance correcting method and image-pickup apparatus which are able to perform white balance correction on a main subject even if mixed light of flash light and ambient light is radiated on the main subject, as the method and the apparatus are adapted to correctly predict the amount of flash reached, which is the amount of light reached a main subject in the main emission, for performing white balance correction according to the predicted amount of light reached.

Abstract: There is provided a control unit of an optical apparatus and an image pickup apparatus, which can prevent a shift of an already controlled position of a member when an impact, etc. apply to the optical apparatus. A control unit for an optical apparatus that includes a first member that is movable, an actuator, and a drive mechanism that transmits a driving force of the actuator to the first member, includes a determination part for determining whether the optical apparatus or a second member provided to an apparatus attached to the optical apparatus is to move, and a controller for controlling, prior to a movement of the second member, the actuator from a first state at which the drive mechanism can transmit the driving force to a second state at which the drive mechanism cannot transmit the driving force, when the determination part determines that the second member is to move.

Abstract: A relatively rapidly moving object is imaged with a sensor incorporating a rolling electronic shutter, while using flash illumination which is comparable to or dimmer than ambient light. This is achieved by utilizing a physical shutter between the object and sensor which is synchronized to the flash. Preferably, the physical shutter is also operated so as to be open for a time interval which is coextensive with the presence of the flash. Preferably, an optical mechanism is provided between the object and sensor which causes the image to be focused when the light is flashed and blurred otherwise. Preferably, an optical filter is positioned between the object and sensor, and this filter is constructed to transmit to the CMOS sensor light at the wavelength of the flashing light source but to attenuate ambient light.

Abstract: Techniques are generally described for an image capture system that may include an image sensor, a flash for providing illumination, a data storage, and a processor operatively associated with the data storage. The processor may be adapted to execute computer implemented instructions to pre-store one or more image capture device characteristics in the data storage, acquire data in a pre-capture phase, model shadow effects based on either or both of the pre-stored data and the acquired data, modify one or more image capture device settings based on the modeled shadow effects, and record image data with the image sensor. Illumination may be provided substantially coincident with recording of the image data.

Abstract: A flash-related function involves flash range indication to indicate when one or more subjects are in the range of a flash and indicate when one or more subjects are not in the range of the flash. The indications may be made to a user on an electronic viewfinder during photograph composition to assist the user in composing a quality photograph. Another flash-related function involves automatically turning on a fill flash when a potential subject is backlight.

Abstract: A stroboscope is utilized as an input device of a golf game system (10), for example. The golf game system includes a game machine (12) as an information processing apparatus and a golf-club-shaped input device (14), and within a housing of the game machine, an imaging unit (28) is housed, and the imaging unit is provided with an image sensor (40) and an infrared-LED. By utilizing the infrared-LED, an infrared ray is intermittently emitted to a predetermined range of an upper portion of the imaging unit. Accordingly, the image sensor intermittently images a reflective body provided in the golf-club-shaped input device moving within the range. Such the stroboscope image processing of the reflective body enables calculation of a velocity, and so on as an input of the game machine.

Abstract: An electronic device may have a camera module for acquiring still and video digital images of a subject. A light source such as a light-emitting diode may serve as a flash for the camera module. A shutter may be mounted above the light-emitting diode. When the light-emitting diode is not being used to produce a flash of light for illuminating the subject, the shutter may be closed to block the light-emitting diode from view by a user. During image acquisition operations in which it is desired to illuminate the subject, the shutter may be opened to allow light from the light-emitting diode to exit the electronic device. The electronic device may have a touch screen display with an active region and an inactive region. The camera module and light source may be mounted under a portion of the inactive region of the display. The shutter may include a filter structure.

Abstract: A system for controlling photoflash includes a signal processing unit, a calculating unit, a photoflash module and an adjusting unit. The photoflash module includes a capacitor. The signal processing unit is configured for analyzing image information to get a current brightness value of the image, and the calculating unit is configured for calculating a first photoflash time of the photoflash module based on a first voltage value of the capacitor via analyzing the current brightness value. The adjusting unit is configured for adjusting the first photoflash time to get a second photoflash time according to a second voltage value of the capacitor, and outputting the second photoflash time to the photoflash module to control flashing of the photoflash module.

Abstract: A digital camera automatically changes its imaging sensitivity based on a proper exposure value that is calculated at a predetermined standard imaging sensitivity based on subject brightness measured from a photometry area of a scene to shoot. When the decided imaging sensitivity is higher than a predetermined sensitivity threshold value, the scene is judged to be a low brightness backlit scene that contains a higher brightness portion around a dark main subject, and a lower brightness portion around the higher brightness portion. A rear light judgment value is calculated as a difference between a central photometric value and a peripheral photometric value of a photometry area, and is compared with a predetermined rear light threshold value, to judge whether the scene is backlit or not. When the scene is judged to be a backlit scene or a low brightness backlit scene, the digital camera emits a flash light synchronously with an exposure.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus (107-1) which captures an image of an object moving in a space where a light source (109) is placed, the light source emitting light whose intensity varies in a predetermined cycle, the imaging capturing apparatus includes: an imaging device (102-1) for capturing the image of the object and the light from the light source (109); a signal processing unit (103-1) for generating, from a signal outputted from the imaging device (102-1), an image signal that includes a picture sequence synchronized with an imaging apparatus drive signal obtained from the outside; and a phase difference detection unit (105-1), a phase different adjustment unit (106-1), and a drive signal generation unit (104-1), for generating a signal that is synchronized with the intensity variations of the light from the light source (109) which is captured by the imaging device (102-1), and outputting, as the imaging-apparatus drive signal, the generated signal into the signal processing unit (103-1).

Abstract: When the mode is set to a strobe consecutive shooting mode, an imaging apparatus sets the mode to a pixel addition drive mode for reading out image data using pixel addition drive (S7), performs metering operation using preliminary flashing (S8) and calculates an appropriate amount of flashing on the basis of the metering operation (S9). Next, the imaging apparatus judges whether or not it is possible to flash three times consecutively with the calculated amount of flashing (S10). If it is judged that it is not possible to flash three times consecutively with the calculated amount of flashing (NO in S10), the imaging apparatus limits the amount of flashing to the largest amount of flashing within the range of amounts of flashing with which flashing of strobe light three times consecutively is possible (S11), and performs strobe consecutive shooting with the limited amount of flashing (S13 to S17).

Abstract: A camera with a lighting unit is disclosed, in which the installation space of a microphone can be secured without preventing miniaturization of the camera. The camera comprises a main body, a lighting unit including a light emitting portion and being movable between an up position and a down position, and a microphone provided on the main body. In the down position of the lighting unit, the light emitting portion is located at a position closer to an object side than the microphone, and in the up position of the lighting unit, the light emitting portion is located above the microphone and a space opened towards the object side is formed between the light emitting portion and the microphone.

Abstract: When flash photography is performed, an exposure time at a time of a preliminary light emission of a flash is set as short as possible so that the appropriate amount of light required for a main light emission of the flash can be accurately computed. Before the main light emission of the flash, an exposure operation prior to preliminary light emission and an exposure operation at the time of preliminary light emission are performed. After each of these exposures, the pixel signals of individual pixels are intermittently read out at predetermined pixel intervals. The brightness levels of images captured in the exposure operation prior to preliminary light emission and the exposure operation at the time of preliminary light emission are individually detected based on the signals. The amount of light required for the main light emission of the flash is computed based on a difference between the brightness levels.

Abstract: The invention refers to a flash light compensation system and corresponding method for digital camera systems, wherein a luminance compensation is carried out on an image of a scene (3) picked-up by an image sensor (1), on the basis of a respective intensity field measured by a plurality of sensors (4, 5), when the scene is illuminated by flash light emitted by a flash device (2). Depending upon the output signals of the plurality of sensors a depth field of the scene is estimated, and this estimation provides a basis for the luminance adjustment on the scene picked up as an image while illuminated by the flash device. The system and method is suitable for effectively reducing the problem of unevenly distributed lighting on a picked-up image of the scene.