Victor Company of Japan, Limited

Hiroyuki Miyahara

Kenji Taguchi

Michihiro Aso

Hiroshi Nishiyama

Hidehiro Katoh

Nobuyuki Matsukawa

Tetsuya Oura

Hiroyasu Kunimi

Takeshi Ibaraki

Takayuki Ohtsuka

Akira Hirota

Takashi Shinozaki

Yoshiteru Kosaka

Kenji Matsuoka

Fumio Nidaira

Mariko Fukushima

Detection information is obtained from captured-image information of an imaging element array. An area is provided in an image capturing region in the imaging element array. In response to the obtained detection information, a pattern is generated which defines a ratio of a number of photosensor pixels used to capture an image to a number of all photosensor pixels in the area. The imaging element array is driven in accordance with the generated pattern. Interpolation responsive to a first picture signal generated by the used photosensor pixels in the area is implemented to generate a second picture signal corresponding to unused ones among all the photosensor pixels in the area. The first picture signal and the second picture signal are combined into a captured-image signal. The captured-image signal is outputted at a prescribed frame rate.

Method and apparatus for taking pictures

An imaging device includes a matrix array of photosensor pixels. An effective area in the array is set to a first region during a first mode of operation of the imaging device, and is set to a second region during a second mode of operation of the imaging device. The first and second regions are different in number of photosensor pixels contained therein. A holder retains the array. The holder is moved between a first position at which an optical axis related to light incident to the array coincides with a center of the first region and a second position at which the optical axis coincides with a center of the second region. The holder is fixed at the first position during the first mode of operation of the imaging device, and is fixed at the second position during the second mode of operation of the imaging device.

Optical axis varying imaging device

In a video signal processing method of processing a luminance signal of a video signal generated by causing a CCD to receive light transmitted through color filters, a control signal yfis generated by calculating Cy/Y using a complementary color signal Cy and a luminance signal Y, and coring correction is performed to the luminance signal by using the control signal yf. The characteristic difference between the color filters is suppressed, and, as a result, flickers are suppressed from being generated.

Video signal processing method and device for processing luminance signal

An image-sensing device has pixel areas for outputting CCD signals of plural channels, and an adjusting portion for adjusting a level of each channel of the CCD signals outputted from the pixel area. A first channel CCD signal is provided from a pixel area, a horizontal OB area, a slide shift area, and an HCCD. A second channel CCD signal is provided from a pixel area, a horizontal OB area, a slide shift area, and an HCCD. Both of the first and second CCD signals are supplied to the adjusting portion with a reference signal added. The adjusting portion controls CCD signal of each channel by making the level of reference signal the same. The variation of the shift efficiency of electric charge in the border of pixel areasandfor each channel, and in the slide shift areasandcan be compensated.

Image-sensing device having a plurality of output channels

An image sensing device operates in a first and a second picture image mode. The image sensing device includes a pixel area having a first vertical transferring CCD to transfer a first electric charge converted from an optical image and a second vertical transferring CCD to transfer a second electric charge of optical black level respectively. The image sensing device includes a block portion for selectively blocking the first and second electric charge, wherein the first and second electric charges are outputted without block operation of the block portion and transferred to the horizontal CCD in the first picture image mode and wherein the block portion selectively blocks the first electric charge, and the first electric charge unblocked and the second electric charge are transferred to the horizontal CCD at different timing in a second picture image mode.

Transferring method of electric charge from image sensing device and the image sensing device

An image-sensing apparatus for compensating video signal of a plurality of channels, adds an electric charge of a pilot signal on a signal vertically transferred in an image-sensing device. A pixel area of the image-sensing deviceis divided into a plurality of pixel areas to obtain an output signal of a plurality of channels. The pilot signal is add to an output signal of each pixel area corresponding to each channel for twice a field period, and for different electric potential. The control circuitobtains a difference between the two pilot signals in one filed period, and controls the gain compensationto make the pilot signal level in each channel equal. Additionally, the pilot signal is not used for compensation but the previous signal is used when a smear element is detected from the output signal of each channel.

Image-sensing apparatus for compensating video signal of a plurality of channels

In a motion picture taking mode, pixels in the area B are outputted as a motion picture. Electric charges from the area E are intercepted by the intercepting section D and not transmitted to the HCCD. In a still picture taking mode, pixels in all the areas are outputted as a still picture. Further, a center of optical axis is set to the position xin the motion picture taking mode, and set to the position xin the still picture taking mode.

Image sensing apparatus employing photoelectric conversion elements

An image sensing device for transferring electric charge from a plurality of photoelectric converters disposed therein. The image sensing device is divided into a plurality of pixel areas. At least a pair of the divided pixel areas contiguous to each other have a vertical transfer CCD, an oblique shift CCD and a horizontal transfer CCD to transfer the electric charge from the photoelectric converters to an output stage. The output stage is at least disposed contiguous to the boundary of the divided pixel areas adjacent to each other.

Method of transferring electric charge from image sensing device and image sensing device

An imaging apparatus has a solid-state image sensing device having an imaging area divided into left and right sub-imaging areas, a first optical-black (OB) area and a second OB area being provided at both edges of the imaging area in the horizontal direction. First video signals are extracted from monitoring areas in the sub-imaging areas close to the border between the sub-imaging areas. Optical-black clamping is applied to second video signals output from the sub-imaging areas by subtracting a first OB signal indicating an OB level in the first OB area from the second video signal output from one of the sub-imaging area and subtracting a second OB signal indicating an OB level in the second OB area from the second video signal output from the other of the sub-imaging areas. Detected first in the optical-black clamping is a level difference between the extracted first video signals. Calculated next is an adjusting value per row of pixels, that provides the smallest level difference per row of pixels in the imaging area based on the detected level difference. The first OB signal is subtracted from one of the second video signals and the second OB signal is subtracted from the other second video signal, thus outputting an optical-black-clamped video signal. Video-signal levels are adjusted by multiplying the optical-black-clamped video signal by the adjusting value.

Imaging apparatus and method of optical-black clamping

A pixel signal outputted from an image pickup device in a standard image pickup region of a solid-state image device and a pixel signal outputted from an image pickup device in a camera shake correction region are written into a first memory and a second memory alternately for each screen. By adjusting the number of lines of a video signal upon reading out a signal from the memory, a moving image is outputted as a wide angle image. Further, by outputting all line signals in the memory, a wider angle still image is obtained.

Wide angle image pickup apparatus

When a still picture information is recorded on the recording mediumwhile a moving picture information is recorded by the VTR, a still picture information to be recorded can be confirmed and recorded by displaying the still picture information to be recorded in a sub picture frame on the screen of the viewfinder, which displays the moving picture information currently recorded.

Video recorder for recording moving and still picture information

A video camera apparatus has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, which convert input light to electrical charges, these being disposed in a matrix arrangement, and a drain section which drains off the electrical charges from a series of the photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a horizontal row. Each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements detects one of a prescribed plurality of colors, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements being divided into a plurality of fixed patterns that are repeated with respect to the detected colors in the vertical direction. By draining off the electrical charges that are stored in photoelectric conversion elements of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements other than photoelectric conversion elements within a prescribed area, the electrical charges stored in photoelectric conversion elements within the prescribed area are read out a plurality of times during one field period. The prescribed area is defined in units that are fixed patterns.

Imaging apparatus that reads out an electrical charge from a part of its plurality of photoelectrical conversion elements

In a video signal processing method of processing a luminance signal of a video signal generated by causing a CCD to receive light transmitted through color filters, a control signal yf is generated by calculating Cy/Y using a complementary color signal Cy and a luminance signal Y, and coring correction is performed to the luminance signal by using the control signal yf The characteristic difference between the color filters is suppressed, and, as a result, flickers are suppressed from being generated.

Video signal processing method and device

A frame/field converter circuit addition-processes image data constituting respective fields in a ratio corresponding to an image pickup mode or the like and outputs the resulting image data. As a result of this, it is possible to perform addition processing on image data constituting respective fields in an optimum ratio corresponding to an image pickup mode or the like and output the resulting image data. This makes it possible to improve the frequency characteristic and S/N ratio of the image and thereby enhance the quality of the displayed image. A contour compensation circuit performs contour compensation processing with respect to the frequency band of the image data in correspondence with the zoom magnification. As a result of this, it is possible to mitigate the level of the return noises generated in correspondence with the zoom magnification and thereby prevent the deterioration of the frequency characteristic and S/N ratio of the image to thereby enhance the quality of the image. An electronic zoom circuit performs zoom processing according to both of even-line data and odd-line data output from an all-pixel readout system solid image pickup element.

IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH COMPATIBLE-WITH-ZOOMING TYPE CONTOUR COMPENSATION CIRCUIT, COMPATIBLE-WITH-IMAGE-PICKUP-CONDITIONS TYPE IMAGE OUTPUT CIRCUIT, AND COMPATIBLE-WITH-ALL-PIXEL-READOUT-SYSTEM-SOLID-IMAGE-PICKUP-ELEMENT TYPE ELECTRONIC ZOOM CIRCUIT

Charges are read out from a CCD n (where n is an integer or greater) times within 1 field period, under the control of a controller. Under the control of a memory controller, a VTR records the n images as a video signal for 1 field, based on the readout charges. When playing back, under control of the memory controller, the video signal for 1 field, which is read out from the VTR and which includes n images, is temporarily stored in a memory. The memory controller reads out the n images from the memory in time sequence, and displays each image on a display m (where m is an integer 1 or greater) times during period of m fields, thereby performing slow playback at a playback speed of 1/(n&times;m). Along with a video signal for each field, the VTR records information with regard to the number n of the images and the display positions thereof.

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Yokohama, Japan

Hiroyuki Miyahara