Abstract: [Object] To provide an imaging control apparatus that enables a parameter that complies with the intention of a user, to be automatically set at the time of image capturing. [Solution] Provided is an imaging control apparatus including: a control unit configured to change a display that consecutively describes a relationship between parameters of two or more image capturing conditions, in accordance with an operation performed by a user, and to change a setting of the relationship in accordance with a change of the display. With this configuration, the imaging control apparatus enables a parameter that complies with the intention of a user, to be automatically set at the time of image capturing.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has an acquisition unit that acquires a first image captured by coded exposure in which a transfer unit is driven for n times, and acquires a second image captured by driving the transfer unit for m times (m<n), an image correction processing unit that generates a third image by performing blur correction processing on the first image, and an image comparison unit that evaluates a plurality of images including at least two of the first image, the second image, and the third image, and selects an image of which evaluation is the highest among the plurality of images as an output image, or increases a weight for an image of which evaluation is highest among the plurality of images, relative to those of the other images, when an output image is generated by combining the plurality of images.

Abstract: This invention discloses an image pickup device and an image synthesis method thereof The image pickup device comprises an image-pickup module, an image-synthesis module, a database and a processing module. The image-pickup module captures a plurality of temporary images of a scene. The image-synthesis module extracts a part of each temporary image and combines the parts to form a panorama temporary image, and splits the panorama temporary image into a plurality of zone-areas according to at least one threshold value and a panorama luminosity histogram. The database stores a lookup table for recording a plurality of exposure values. The plurality of the exposure values correspond to luminance values of the zone-areas respectively. The processing module obtains the plurality of exposure values corresponding to the luminance values and obtains a weighting-exposure value by an equation, and controls the image-pickup module to capture the panorama image according to the weighting-exposure value.

Abstract: A shutter control device performs photography by operating a shutter housed in a lens barrel, and comprises a communication port, a shutter control unit and a memory. The communication port transmits and receives signals between the camera body and the lens barrel. The shutter control unit is provided in the camera body to output a shutter control signal. The memory is provided in the lens barrel to store shutter delay information regarding a time delay from when the shutter control signal is input to the lens barrel until when the shutter is closed. The shutter control unit receives the shutter delay information from the lens barrel and transmits the shutter control signal to the lens barrel through the communication port, ahead of an exposure time as determined by photometry, by an amount of time equal to the time delay.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and a computer readable medium for an improved automatic exposure algorithm attempt to classify an image into a particular “scene category,” and, based on the determined scene category, meter the scene according to a generated metering weighting matrix. In one embodiment, the average luminance is calculated for a central exposure metering region of the image and a plurality of peripheral exposure metering regions surrounding the central exposure metering region. Based on comparisons of the average luminance values of the peripheral exposure regions to the average luminance of the central exposure region, a target metering weighting matrix may be generated. In another embodiment, the scene category corresponds to a predetermined metering weighting matrix.

Abstract: An illumination device for a camera includes a light source, in which LED chips are supplied with a drive current, for emitting light of a first color at intensity according to the drive current. An encapsulant is disposed in front of each LED chip, for changing an illuminating color of the light. An EEPROM stores a data table for representing a correlation between the illuminating color and the drive current. An illumination control unit obtains first drive current associated with a target color of light for use by referring to the data table, to drive the LED chips with the first drive current. Phosphor in the encapsulant sets color temperature of the light lower upon passage through the encapsulant than upon emission from the LED chips.

Abstract: An auto-exposure control method includes: creating an exposure table and an analog gain table including an exposure time and an analog gain of an image sensor set according to an index, respectively; calculating an average luminance value of an image frame obtained by the image sensor; checking whether or not the average luminance value is within a pre-set range including a prescribed final target value; if the average luminance value is not within the pre-set range, determining a shift step from indexes which have been applied to a current image frame according to the difference between the average luminance value and the final target value in order to determine indexes of the exposure table and the analog gain table to be applied to a next image frame; and repeatedly performing of reading an exposure time and an analog gain corresponding to the indexes shifted by the shift step determined from the indexes applied to the current image frame, from the exposure table and the analog gain table, applying the sam

Abstract: Systems, methods, and a computer readable medium for an improved automatic exposure algorithm attempt to classify an image into a particular “scene category,” and, based on the determined scene category, meter the scene according to a generated metering weighting matrix. In one embodiment, the average luminance is calculated for a central exposure metering region of the image and a plurality of peripheral exposure metering regions surrounding the central exposure metering region. Based on comparisons of the average luminance values of the peripheral exposure regions to the average luminance of the central exposure region, a target metering weighting matrix may be generated. In another embodiment, the scene category corresponds to a predetermined metering weighting matrix.

Abstract: A method of controlling an image photographing apparatus includes checking a photographing mode of the image photographing apparatus, displaying a characteristic curve indicating a relationship between photographing conditions and a recommended region if the checked photographing mode is a manual mode to manually adjust the photographing conditions, and changing the photographing conditions if a user specifies any point of the characteristic curve or the periphery of the characteristic curve. Accordingly, it may be possible to implement the user interface which is conveniently and easily controlled.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of generating a final exposure setting, including, (a) selecting one of a number of predetermined exposure settings as a current exposure setting for a solid state camera having a camera imager, (b) generating a captured scene by the camera imager using the current exposure setting, (c) selecting according to an automated search methodology another one of the exposure settings to be the current setting in response to the captured scene being underexposed or overexposed, and, (d) repeating (b) and (c) until the captured scene is neither underexposed or overexposed.

Abstract: This invention can efficiently remove, within a short period of time, a foreign substance such as dust adhering on an optical element arranged on the front surface of an image sensor. An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image, an optical element inserted between the image sensor and a photographing optical system which forms the object image, a foreign substance position storage unit which stores the position of a foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, a vibration unit which vibrates the optical element to remove the foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, and a control unit which controls a driving parameter of the vibration unit on the basis of the foreign substance position information stored in the foreign substance position storage unit.

Abstract: An image display apparatus comprising: a first storage device which stores an image file including an image and the photographing date and time information of the image; an operation device which performs a predetermined operation; a timing determination device which makes a determination whether or not it is the timing at which no operation occurs on the operation device; a photographing date and time information acquisition device which acquires the photographing date and time information from the image file stored in the first storage device when a determination is made that it is the timing at which no operation occurs on the operation device; a second storage device which stores the photographing date and time information acquired by the photographing date and time information acquisition device associated with the image file; a display device which displays the image within the image file; and a display control device which controls the display on the display device by sorting the images within the i

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for regulating the exposure time of a light sensor, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) setting the exposure time of the sensor to a value selected in a first range of M prefixed values defined between a minimum and a maximum value; b) acquiring an image of an object on the sensor, such image comprising a plurality of luminous pixels; c) analyzing the acquired image in order to detect its level of luminosity; d) comparing the detected level of luminosity with a prefixed higher (lower) global threshold level representative of a condition of overexposure (under-exposure) of the image; e) varying the exposure time of the sensor and iteratively repeating the previous steps until an optimum exposure time equal to the highest (lowest) exposure time is found, amongst the ones set, for which the image presents a level of luminosity which is smaller (greater) than the prefixed higher (lower) global threshold level.

Abstract: A camera system having a camera body and a photographing lens, which can be mounted to and dismounted from the camera body, includes a determining device which determines a type of the photographing lens in accordance with data received from the photographing lens; and a body controller which has a function to send body data and individual function data to the photographing lens, wherein each of the individual function data is required for a corresponding function that the photographing lens possesses. The body controller sends all the body data to the photographing lens regardless of the type of the photographing lens, and sends a portion of the individual function data which is associated with the type of the photographing lens to the photographing lens.

Abstract: A method of fast converging an appropriate exposure value. By establishing a EV lookup table of exposure valuescamera characteristics that can be easily modified, the image extracted by an optical sensor of a digital camera is fast converged into an appropriate exposure value quickly in a close-loop computation. Therefore, the multi-variable (exposure time, gain value and f-number number) exposure control can be easily achieved to fast converge the appropriate automatic exposure value.

Abstract: An exposure control method and apparatus for a camera having a two-area divided brightness measurement system. A central light value is determined based on a central area brightness of a photographic scene, and a peripheral light value is determined based on a peripheral area brightness of the scene. After determining by comparison between the central and peripheral light values whether the scene is back-lighted or front-lighted, a correction coefficient specific to back-lighted scenes or that specific to front-lighted scenes is read from a memory. An exposure value suitable for a main subject is calculated according to the following equation: Es=log2{1−(1−&agr;)2LVb−LVa}−log2&agr;+LVa wherein Es represents the exposure value and &agr; represents the correction coefficient.

Abstract: When the driver of a step motor is executed in a personal computer, its speed will be varied in response to the speed of the CPU. To provide a constant and stable speed of the step motor, the present invention automatically detects the system model and the CPU model of the personal computer when the host computer is power-on. In addition, the present invention establishes a lookup table which records a proper delay times for a corresponding system model and CPU model. After obtaining the CPU model and the system model, the proper delay times can be found by looking up the lookup table. The delay times obtained can be provided for the delay subroutine for the driver, thereby to update the delay parameter required for the delay subroutine. Consequently, the speed of the step motor will be automatically updated in response to the system performance of a personal computer to guarantee a smooth and stable stepping motion for a step motor.

Abstract: An electro-optical framing camera forward motion compensation (FMC) system comprising a moving shutter and a full frame focal plane array detector is disclosed. The reconnaissance system is designed to minimize the variation of image motion from a target scene across the focal plane array. The full frame focal plane array, such as a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), is designed to transfer and add the image from pixel to pixel at a predetermined rate of image motion corresponding to the region exposed by the focal plane shutter. The focal plane shutter aperture and velocity are set to predetermined values coordinated with the available illumination. The CCD image transfer rate is set to minimize the smear effects due to image motion in the region of the scene exposed by the focal plane shutter. This rate is variable with line of sight depression angle, aircraft altitude, and aircraft velocity/altitude ratio.

Abstract: A shutter control apparatus is constructed for executing an exposure operation of a camera to photograph an object by controlling an actuator which drives a shutter blade to be opened and closed. In the shutter control apparatus, a battery supplies a power supply voltage. A detection circuit detects a variation occurring in the power supply voltage. A drive circuit directly uses the power supply voltage to feed a power to the actuator. The drive circuit switches between an open power for opening the shutter blade and a closing power for closing the shutter blade. A control circuit controls the drive circuit by setting a timing for switching to the closing power in accordance with at least a brightness of an object. The control circuit corrects the timing for switching to the closing power in accordance with the variation of the power supply voltage detected by the detection circuit.

Abstract: An electro-optical framing camera forward motion compensation (FMC) reconnaissance system comprising a moving shutter and a full frame focal plane array detector is designed to minimize the variation of image motion from a target scene across the focal plane array. The full frame focal plane array, such as a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), is designed to transfer and add the image from pixel to pixel at a predetermined rate of image motion corresponding to the region exposed by the focal plane shutter. The focal plane shutter aperture and velocity are set to predetermined values coordinated with the available illumination. The CCD image transfer rate is set to minimize the smear effects due to image motion in the region of the scene exposed by the focal plane shutter. This rate is variable with line of sight depression angle, aircraft altitude, and aircraft velocity/altitude ratio.

Abstract: A photographic device eliminates photometric errors that occur in photometry, obtains a more accurate exposure, and shortens the time required for photometry. The device includes an orientation position detector and photographic mode setter, which outputs photographic conditions based on a set photographic mode. A photometer divides the subject field into multiple regions and analyzes the light. An exposure calculator calculates the exposure value based on the output of the photometer. A memory stores weighing coefficients corresponding to multiple light brightness patterns. A tilt switch position orientation detector determines the position of the camera. A selector selects the weighing coefficients from the memory, based on the photographic mode setting component output and the position of the camera. A frequency analyzer then analyzes the output frequency of the photometer. A re-calculator re-calculates the exposure value based on the result of the frequency analyzer and the selection of the selector.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a lens which can be moved in the direction of the optical axis, a moving unit for moving the lens, and a signal generator for detecting information about the movement of the lens, the signal generator comprising a wiring board which is disposed on a surface intersecting the optical axis at right angles and on which a signal generating pattern is formed, and a signal generating member which is moved around the optical axis by rotating the rotating member in the moving unit and which slides on the signal generating pattern. There is thus no need for providing a flexible printed wiring board, as conventional lens barrels.

Abstract: The rotation of the motor 60 located outside the lens barrel is transmitted to the shutter blades 74 that move along the optical axis together with the lens barrel by means of the gear train 62, the drive shaft 64 that is engaged with the output gear 63 of the gear train 62, the gear tube 66 that is engaged with the drive shaft 64 and has the engaging hole 67 through which the drive shaft 64 can extend and retract, and the gear 72 that is engaged with the gear 68 of the gear tube 66.

Abstract: A control device for a camera shutter comprises a diaphragm value setting device for setting a predetermined diaphragm value of the shutter, an exposure value setting device for setting an exposure value of the shutter, a storing device for storing an opening size of the shutter, output timings of signals for controlling opening and closing operations of the shutter, and an exposure value of the shutter corresponding to the set diaphragm value, and a control apparatus for controlling the opening and closing operations of the shutter on the basis of output signals from the diaphragm value setting device, the exposure value setting device and the storing device. The control apparatus calculates the output timings of the signals for controlling the opening and closing operations of the shutter on the basis of the exposure value of the shutter outputted from the exposure value setting device, and controls the opening and closing operations of the shutter on the basis of the results of the calculation.

Abstract: A camera has a calculator which calculates a photographing condition suitable for a selected exposure mode. A driving device of the camera performs a photographing operation in accordance with a nominal value of an exposure parameter calculated by the calculator. The camera is provided with a measurement device which measures a real value of the exposure parameter in the photographing operation. The calculator is controlled to perform an exposure calculation on the basis of the real value of the exposure parameter obtained by the measurement device.

Abstract: An image pickup device capable of exposure control utilizing the iris aperture, shutter speed and gain as three control parameters, comprising means for setting a photometry area in the image frame; means for setting an input parameter as a reference for evaluation, based on the luminance information in an image signal obtained from the photometry means; means for determining the values of the three control parameters for exposure control, according to the value of the input parameter; switch means for switching, according to the phototaking mode, a program setting the control caharacteristics of each control parameter as a function of the input parameter; and photometry area switch means for switching the set state of the photometry area in the image frame, in linkage with the switching operation of the switch means, wherein the phototaking mode is switched according to the phototaking conditions, thereby controlling the parameters and the light metering area according to a program matching the phototaking m

Abstract: A CPU in a one-chip microcomputer executes a control operation in accordance with program data stored in part of a flash memory capable of erasing/writing data in each memory block defined in the flash memory. A write controller writes data in a specific block in the flash memory. A plurality of adjustment values for correcting variations between products in which the system is to be used are written in a specific block of the flash memory after the adjustment values are determined. A control program for rewriting data stored in the flash memory is written before the one-chip microcomputer is incorporated in the system. After the one-chip microcomputer is incorporated in the system, data is written in the flash memory through the write controller. In addition, the circuit configuration of the system is stored in part of the flash memory.

Abstract: An automatic exposure control device of a video camera for recording and tie-recording with proper exposure level including an iris mechanism having a two-fin type iris rotated by a ring portion of which the rotational speed is in proportion to an iris control value while an electric battery is switched on and a photograph button is pushed. Recording is actually started after a predetermined period is passed following the pushing of the photograph button. A photometric integrating circuit outputs an iris integrating value from a brightness element of a photograph signal. A microcomputer determines the iris control value from the iris integrating value. During the predetermined period after the pushing of the photograph button, the iris control value is increased and output for every field in order to control the iris with high speed.

Abstract: A camera operable in shutter-priority automatic exposure mode comprises a photometric circuit, an exposure data memory circuit for storing information on a plurality of selectable diaphragm openings, and a control circuit for calculating a desirable diaphragm opening based on a shutter speed preset prior to an exposure and luminance data output from the photometric circuit, and determining an actual diaphragm opening based on a comparison between the calculated diaphragm opening and the selectable diaphragm openings. The control circuit checks whether the preset shutter speed is higher or lower than a predefined reference shutter speed and selects one of the selectable diaphragm openings that provides a higher shutter speed if the preset shutter speed is higher than the reference shutter speed, or selects one of the selectable diaphragm openings that provides a lower shutter speed if the preset shutter speed is lower than the reference shutter speed.

Abstract: The exposure controlling device comprises a controlling unit that controls, at the time of an exposure, the DC motor to rotate forward to open the shutter blades and then to rotate reversely to close the shutter blades, a calculating unit that calculates a time period for driving the DC motor in the forward direction between a predetermined starting point and a point where a required aperture area is obtained, a timer for counting the time period from the starting point, a memory for storing data of relationship between the time period and the aperture area, and means for storing an individual data of the relationship into the memory.The calculating unit calculates the time period based on a required aperture area by using the data of relationship stored in the memory for compensating individual differences among lens shutters.

Abstract: A photographic camera includes a photosensitive image receiver for generating an image, an optical system for focusing incident light representative of the image upon the receiver, and an exposure control section for generating an exposure value from the incident light that is used to regulate image capture. The exposure control section includes an exposure table containing control values that regulate the acquisition parameters that control the image. The table includes a sequence of table entries for exposure values and corresponding values of at least one of an optical aperture value and an electronic gain value that provide for each table entry a correct exposure for the corresponding exposure value. The sequence of table entries are selected to include the switch points for aperture and gain such that increments between exposure values are variable in length, while a continuous series of optical aperture values and gain values are represented in the table.

Abstract: A camera includes a mechanically-controlled aperture mechanism providing two or more aperture sizes for regulation of the intensity of image light gathered by the camera, a storage device for storing aperture calibration data corresponding to the measured transmissivity of each aperture size, and means for controlling camera exposure according to the value of one or more exposure parameters other than the aperture. The exposure errors caused by the aperture mechanism are thereupon compensated for with an exposure circuit that utilizes the stored aperture calibration data in order to establish the value of at least one of the exposure parameters other than the aperture. Such other exposure parameters include the shutter time and quench time for a flash, and in the case of an electronic camera the gain applied to the captured image signal.