Panasonic Corporation

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan

Mayu Ogawa

Shinji Kitamura

Masahiro Ogawa

Kenji Nakamura

Toshiya Fujii

Yasutoshi Yamamoto

Kazuyuki Inokuma

Mitsuhiko Otani

Keiichi Mori

Junichi Matsuo

Yukihiro Tanizoe

Kunihiro Imamura

Masao Ozawa

Ryuichi Miyakoshi

Michiko Morita

Yoshiaki Mimata

An imaging apparatus includes a light emitter, a pixel section, and a signal processor which calculates distance information of a subject. The pixel section includes a photoelectric converter, first and second read-out gates, and a plurality of charge accumulators including a first charge accumulator and a second charge accumulator. The first read-out gate is activated in a first period and deactivated in a second period. The second read-out gate is activated in the first period and the second period. The signal processor calculates the distance information based on a total amount of signal charges accumulated in the charge accumulators in the first period and the second period and a difference between an amount of signal charges accumulated in the second charge accumulator in the first period and the second period and an amount of the signal charge accumulated in the first charge accumulator in the first period.

Imaging apparatus and distance information calculation method

In an image encoding device, a predicted pixel generator generates a predicted value for pixel data based on at least one of pixels adjacent to a pixel to be compressed. A quantization processor quantizes a difference value between the pixel data and the generated predicted value to a quantized value having a smaller number of bits than that of the pixel data to compress the pixel data to the quantized value. In a quantization width determiner, an edge determiner determines whether or not there are both a flat portion and an edge portion, based on a characteristic of the difference value in the group, and an edge pixel determiner determines whether each of pixels included in the group is a pixel in an edge portion or a pixel in a flat portion, based on the difference value, whereby a quantization width used in the quantization processor is determined.

Image encoding method, image decoding method, image encoding device and image decoding device

An image coding method includes: a predictive pixel generation step of generating a predictive value from at least one surrounding pixel located near a compression target pixel; a code conversion step of code-converting the pixel data to generate a Gray code; and quantizing bit change information (exclusive OR) between the generated Gray code and a Gray code of the predictive value to a quantization value, to compress the pixel data. This prevents significant image quality degradation, so that high image quality can be achieved.

Image coding method and decoding method, image coding apparatus and decoding apparatus, camera, and imaging device

A brightness level detector detects a brightness level of the digital imaging signal for each of the plurality of pixels. A shading detector sets a group of pixel regions distant from each other in a horizontal direction in the imaging element and then detects whether or not shadings are generated in the analog imaging signal based on a difference between the brightness levels of the group of pixel regions. A timing adjuster adjusts a phase of a peak sample pulse for detecting a peak level of the analog imaging signal, a phase of a reference sample pulse for detecting a signal level used as a reference in the correlated double sampling executed when the digital imaging signal is generated and a phase of a horizontal transfer pulse in the imaging element based on outputs of the brightness level detector and the shading detector.

Phase adjustment device, phase adjustment method and digital camera

Coding processing performed by an image coding device () includes: processing (S) of performing coding by leaving surplus bit(s), when the digit number B of binary data of the difference value between (a) a value of a to-be-coded pixel and (b) a prediction value is smaller than the predetermined bit number M; and processing (S) of performing coding by using the surplus bit(s), when the digit number B is greater than M and there are the surplus bit(s). Pieces of coded data each having a predetermined coding amount are generated, by performing processing for each of consecutive T pixels so as to perform the coding processing for each of U pixels among the consecutive T pixels (S).

Image coding device, digital still camera, digital camcorder, imaging device, and image coding method

A characteristic detecting unit detects characteristics of a digital imaged signal at every phase shift interval set in advance. A timing adjustment unit gives a phase adjustment instruction of a pulse so as to converge to an imaging phase in the digital imaged signal at which the characteristics are a predetermined value or within a predetermined range. A shift interval switching unit switches the phase shift interval according to photographing conditions of an imaging element.

Phase adjusting device and related art thereof

An intended-usage judger judges an intended usage of an inputted digital imaging signal. A selector selects one or a plurality of signals to be inspected from a group of signals constituting the digital imaging signal based on a result of the judgment by the intended-usage judger. A phase adjuster adjusts a phase of a pulse used when the digital imaging signal is picked up based on an output state of the signal to be inspected.

A visual processing sectionis provided which performs visual processing on a pixel-by-pixel basis according to a predetermined function defining a relation between a pixel value of a target pixel which is a pixel under visual processing and a pixel value of the target pixel after subjected to the visual processing. An input signal processing sectionis further provided which performs, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, at least one of signal processing to restore resolution of an image data input to the visual processing sectionand signal processing to correct signal deterioration due to the visual processing. In the input signal processing sectionthe at least one signal processing is performed according to a gain determined by using the function.

Image processing device and digital camera

A temperature detecting unit detects a temperature of an imaging element for imaging an image signal. A storage unit stores phase change of a pulse, which is used by the imaging element when imaging the image signal, involved in temperature change of the imaging element in association with the temperature change. A timing adjustment unit checks temperature information of the imaging element detected by the temperature detecting unit with the phase change stored in the storage unit, and adjusts the phase of the pulse.

Phase adjusting device, phase adjusting method, and digital camera

A signal processing circuit generates an image signal by performing signal processing to an imaging signal obtained through a picked up optical system that includes a lens, a diaphragm, an image sensor, and a lens barrel. A main light source detector detects a main light source contained in a picked up image of the image signal. An estimated ghost generator generates an estimated ghost based on layout information of the main light source and the imaging optical system, and structural information of the lens barrel. A matching device extracts an estimated ghost image by searching the estimated ghost in the picked up image through pattern matching. A ghost subtractor subtracts the estimated ghost image from the picked up image.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Mayu Ogawa