Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Norihiro Sakaguchi

Junichi Ikeda

Yuji Suzuki

Tatsutoshi Kitajima

Akihiro Yoshida

Eiichi Maeda

An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes

Imaging apparatus

In the present invention, first of all, an image in each field is monitored by carrying out monitoring. An evaluation value of an AE is calculated from a result of the monitoring, and if the result of the calculation shows that the image is not in low luminance, data in each of the fields is read out by carrying out an exposure, and a normal process for a still image is performed. If the result of the calculation shows that the image is in the low luminance, the exposure and read out of the field data such as a difference in a luminance in each of the fields are carried out, and first and second field data are compared. Then, whether an object moves or not is determined from a result of the comparison, and if the object is determined to be moved, the normal process for the still image is performed. If the object is determined not to be moved, the entire field data from the first to third field data are added.

Imaging apparatus for capturing an object with low luminance by adding pixels of the same color from different fields

A photographing apparatus is provided that comprises a lens unit (), a CCD (), both of which are used to photograph a subject image, means for processing signal () to process output of the CCD () into a brightness signal and a color signal, and focus adjustment means (). An AF evaluating-value obtaining a section () for the focus adjustment that obtains an AF evaluating value, which is changed depending on a frequency component of a subject, is provided after an edge emphasizing section () of a signal processing circuit. When performing focus control, with a plurality of sets of parameters for the edge emphasizing section () prepared, a plurality of frames are photographed by changing the set of the parameter, and then a difference between arbitrary two AF evaluating values from among a plurality of AF evaluating values obtained, is used to determine a focus moving amount.

Controller for auto-focus in a photographing apparatus

An image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device configured to convert a monitored object image into an electrical image signal and to output the image signal, a clock generator configured to generate a constant cyclic drive frequency to drive the image pickup device, and an external device configured to output a brightness signal based on a brightness of the monitored object. Further, a sensitivity to light of the external device is higher than that of the image pickup device. Also included is an image signal reading unit configured to synchronize the image signal with a frequency based on the drive frequency and to read the image signal in a constant read frequency, a brightness signal obtaining unit configured to obtain the brightness signal of the object from the external device, and a read frequency changing unit configured to change the read frequency based on corresponding to the obtained brightness signal.

Image pickup apparatus with external device

An image pickup device includes a CCD which picks up an image of a subject, and a front end process or which corrects data for the picked-up image by a light quantity distribution correction table for correcting the data for the picked-up image based on a light quantity distribution when the image is photographed using a flash.

Device and method for image pickup which corrects data for the picked-up image

An imaging device is provided for reproducing light incident thereto as an image. The image device included a photodetector adapted to translate incident light of an image to a representative electronic signal. A white balance control configures the white balance of the representative electronic signal in accordance with a white balance gain value. A selector interface is operably linked to the white balance control. The selector interface selects among a plurality of predetermined values to set the white balance gain value in accordance with an imaging application. An adjustment interface adjusts the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values. A display of the imaging device provides information of the set value. The information includes a variable range of the set white balance gain value, the variable range including an indication the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values and a graphical representation thereof, relative to the degree of adjustment applied via the adjustment interface.

Image device having a selectively adapted white balance control

In a digital camera, a pre-measuring device obtains color temperature information according to external light in a preliminary exposure. A white balance control value is then determined. The white balance is subsequently adjusted when a strobe light is generated. A regular exposure is thereafter made using the strobe light and the image is recorded for future processing.

Image inputting apparatus

A video image and audio sound signal processor having a signal multiplexer and a single data compression system for a video image recording and playback apparatus. An audio sound signal is sampled in accordance with a timing signal in synchronism with a horizontal synchronizing signal of a video image signal, and such a sampled audio sound signal is then multiplexed onto an end of the video image signal, which is then converted into a digital signal by a single A/D (analog to digital) converter. Such a multiplexed digital signal containing video image data and audio sound data is then sent to a data converter wherein raster data are converted into a plurality of data blocks, each of such data blocks including a plurality of picture elements in both horizontal and vertical directions. And then, the data blocks are sent to a single compression device.

Video image and audio sound signal processor having signal multiplexer

A digital electronic still camera operable in a text mode for clearly shooting a bilevel image, e.g., characters printed or formed on a document. A luminance signal can be roughly corrected with respect to shading by a simple circuit arrangement. This corrects a decrease in the quantity of light in the peripheral portion of a frame and thereby renders characters or similar bilevel images in a picture highly legible.

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Tokyo, Japan

Norihiro Sakaguchi