Hitachi, Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Hitachi Video and Information System, Inc.

Iwao Aizawa

Shigeyuki Itoh

Manabu Wakabayashi

Kenji Matsumoto

Yutaka Takami

Masahiko Yatsu

Masayuki Inoue

Takuya Imaide

Kenji Ogiro

Michio Masuda

Takesuke Maruyama

Atsushi Yoshioka

Toshiro Kinugasa

Takanori Nishiyama

Hiroshi Tomita

Hiroto Takita

Tadasu Horiuchi

Hironobu Satoh

Koichi A Ono

Ryuji Nishimura

Masaru Noda

Koichi Hirose

Yoshihiro Todaka

Shigeru Okada

Masaharu Aridome

Kunihiro Nunomura

Masaru Shimano

An imaging apparatus connectable to an external device includes a recording instruction module which instructs a recording, an imaging module which generates an image signal from an optical image, a memory module which stores the image signal generated by the imaging module, a connecting module which enables connection of the imaging apparatus to the external device, and a control module which controls wiring into the memory module and effects control of an operation of the recording instruction module or an operation responsive thereto.

Imaging and recording apparatus controlling erasure of data in flash type memory

On the basis of information which is the standard for transaction conditions such as amount information in an IC card as well as age information registered in the IC card or a predetermined contract destination, a transaction when electronic money is used and restrictions and conditions for program audience are automatically set.

Electronic purse application system and method thereof

An imaging apparatus which is connectable to an external device includes a recording instruction module which instructs a recording, an imaging module which generates an image signal from an optical image, a memory module which stores the image signal generated by the imaging module, a connecting module which enables connection of the imaging apparatus to the external device, and a control module which controls writing into the memory module. The control module effects control so that when an image signal is written to the memory nodule from the external device connected via the connecting module, writing of a new image signal to the memory module which is responsive to an operation of the recording instruction module is inhibited.

Imaging and recording apparatus

An electric camera includes an imaging device which converts an optical image focused thereon into an electric signal, a first memory which stores the electric signal, a compressor which generates compressed image data from the electric signal stored in the first memory, a second memory which stores the compressed image data, a decompressor which generates an electric signal from the compressed image data stored in the second memory, a progressive selection switch which directs the progress of reproducing an image on a monitor, a connector which is able to connect the camera with an external device, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls writing operations of the second memory according to an external data access from the external device and reading operations of the second memory according to an internal data access which occurred by an operation of the progressive selection switch. Further, the control circuit inhibits writing operations of the second memory according to an external data access independent of an external access direction from the external access device when the internal data is being executed.

An IC card arrangement wherein information which is the standard for transaction conditions such as amount information in an IC card is registered within the IC card, and further included is additional conditional information such as age, sex, etc. information for an owner of the card, or a predetermined contract destination. When a transaction is attempted using the IC card, restrictions and conditions for the owner, etc., are automatically set using the additional conditional information within the IC card.

In a fee charging system for video information, scramble signals including video information and charging information can be recorded on a recording media such that the signals are read later therefrom. The recording of the scramble signals is free of charge. In an operation to reproduce original unscrambled video signals from the signals read from the media by a recording and reproducing apparatus, the charging information is detected to conduct a charging process. Consequently, although the scrambled signals may be freely copied onto another recording media, the charging process is executed for each copying operation. First charging information and second charging information other than the first charging information are arranged with the video information. The video information includes first video information as main video information and second video information. The first charging information is added to the first video information, whereas the second charging information is added to the second video information. A charging process is executed by a charge processing unit according to the charging information. When the second charging information is detected, the charging process is accomplished according to the second charging information in the charge processing unit.

System and method for charging fee for video information

The invention relates to an image pickup apparatus for outputting a video signal encoded in order to compress information amount of a photographed image. The apparatus includes: an image pickup device for outputting a digital video signal; a control unit to control the image pickup device; and an encoding apparatus for encoding the digital video signal which is output from the image pickup device. The control unit generates control information of the image pickup device. The encoding apparatus changes encoding characteristics on the basis of the control information. Further, the encoded digital video signal is recorded and/or reproduced onto/from a recording medium and the signal reproduced from the recording medium is decoded. Moreover, a motion vector of a hand vibration or the like is detected from the photographed video signal and is corrected. In addition, an output signal of the encoding apparatus is output to a digital communication terminal and the signal input from the digital communication terminal is decoded.

Image pickup apparatus having image information compressing function

When a transmission request reception process controller accepts a request to transmit information, the information is read from a memory in order of addresses generated by an address generator. A transmission information generator adds addresses of the information to the read information, for transmission to the transmission requester. When accepting another request to transmit the same information while the information is being transmitted, the transmission request reception process controller causes the information to be transmitted to the latter transmission requester starting at the current point in the information being transmitted to the former transmission requester. After generating the last address of information, the address generator returns to the top address and again continues generating the addresses of the information. The information read from the memory according to the generated addresses is transmitted from output circuits 14 and 16. Each receiving party (information transmission requester) receives the transferred information and records it on record media thereof based on the addresses added to the information.

Information reception and recording circuit

An imaging and recording apparatus for electrically recording an optical image of a subject as an image information signal which facilitates memory access from an external device and prevents image information from being changed. Upon manipulation of a recording trigger switch, an image outputted from a camera signal processing circuit at that time is written into a semiconductor memory, then subjected to data compression in a data compression circuit, and stored in a semiconductor memory. It is now assumed that an external device not illustrated is connected to a connector and this external device orders taking in the image of the semiconductor memory. If at this time the semiconductor memory is writing an image, a state detection circuit detects the fact and inhibits the external device from taking in the image. Furthermore, while the external device is taking in the image of the semiconductor memory, the state detection circuit detects this fact. Even if the recording trigger switch is manipulated, an AND gate turns off in response to an output of the state detection circuit and inhibits image writing into the semiconductor memory.

Information transmission/reception system for transmitting information

An upside-down image, generated when a video camera is rotated about a horizontal axis to face to substantially the same direction as a display unit does, is electrically corrected to be an upright image. A video camera unit made compact to realize a reduction in weight of a video camera rotating mechanism. An image arrangement convertor circuit is provided between the video camera unit and a liquid crystal display serving as a display unit or a recording unit. A switch is provided in a housing for detecting an angular position of the video camera unit. The video camera, which has an imager device and a lens, is pivoted on an edge of the housing for rotation about an axis parallel to the edge. The image arrangement convertor circuit is operated unitarily in accordance with an angular position of the video camera to automatically correct an upside-down image to an upright image. Since the video camera unit is composed of minimally necessary parts and is rotatably pivoted on an edge of the housing, a rotatable joining portion of the video camera unit with the housing can be reduced in size and weight. This structure also allows the user to adjust the angle of the video camera unit only with the thumb and index finger.

Imager apparatus with rotatable camera head

A computer system is provided on the front surface thereof with a connection slot into which a card type holder is inserted for connecting an electronic camera to the computer system. The holder has a connector at one end, a camera head connector at the other end, and a signal processing unit in an intermediate portion. The camera head is supported rotatably in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction relative to the holder.

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Yokohama, Japan

Iwao Aizawa