| OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120120278 | IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that captures images of a photographic subject and continuously generates electronic image data; a display unit that displays, at a predetermined display frame rate, images corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit; an image processing unit that either performs a first-type special effect operation that can be displayed at the predetermined display frame rate or performs a second-type special effect operation that can be displayed at a faster display frame rate than the predetermined display frame rate; an operation input unit that receives input of a change instruction signal that provides an instruction for changing a combination of image processing operations during a special effect operation performed by the image processing unit; and a control unit that instructs the image processing unit to switch the special effect operation from the first-type special effect operation to the second-type special effect operation. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120105577 | PANORAMIC IMAGE GENERATION DEVICE AND PANORAMIC IMAGE GENERATION METHOD - A panoramic image generation device generates a panoramic image by synthesizing a plurality of static images constituting the moving image, determines a size at which a display panoramic image is to be cut out from the panoramic image, and detects a focus photography position from the panoramic image. The panoramic image generation device cuts out the display panoramic image from the panoramic image on the basis of the detected focus photography position and the determined size. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120099198 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A dust-screening member arranged in front of an image forming unit that holds an image forming element configured to generate an optical image, is formed into a box shape that includes a plate-shaped polygonal light transmitting part that passes light entering from or to the image forming element, and a plurality of foot portions that tilt by a predetermined angle and extend from all sides of the light transmitting part or portions near all sides in a direction in which the image forming unit is located. The light transmitting part and the plurality of foot portions are formed using the same material. A vibrating member is fixed to at least one of the plurality of foot portions. The dust-screening member is held by an elastic force of an elastic member arranged between the plurality of foot portions and a support member configured to support the plurality of foot portions. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120095922 | IMAGE DATA SALES SYSTEM, IMAGE DATA SALES METHOD, CAMERA, AND SERVER APPARATUS - In the present invention, a camera ID for specifying a camera that takes images to be sold is registered in a server in advance. The server issues an encryption key when the camera ID is registered, and the camera stores the encryption key and encrypts the camera ID by the encryption key to provide the camera ID to an image file including image data obtained by imaging. The server decrypts the encrypted camera ID provided to the image file transmitted from the user by a decryption key corresponding to the encryption key. If the camera ID obtained by the decryption coincides with the registered camera ID, the server authenticates that the image data included in the image file is imaged by the registered camera and discloses the image data to sell the image data. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120081600 | DIGITAL CAMERA - A digital camera of the present invention has: an optical housing having a bending optical system for reflecting photographic object light entering along a first optical axis to a second optical axis direction perpendicular to the first optical axis to form an image on an image pickup device; a camera main body having a containing portion for containing the optical housing slidably only in the second optical axis direction and having support portions for supporting the optical housing provided on each of both sides surfaces of the containing portion across the second optical axis of the bending optical system; and a shock absorbing unit provided between an inner surface of the containing portion of the camera main body in which the support portions are not provided and an outer surface of the optical housing facing thereto. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120081599 | DIGITAL CAMERA - A digital camera of the present invention has: an optical housing having a bending optical system for reflecting photographic object light entering along a first optical axis to a second optical axis direction perpendicular to the first optical axis to form an image on an image pickup device; a camera main body having a containing portion for containing the optical housing slidably only in the second optical axis direction and having support portions for supporting the optical housing provided on each of both sides surfaces of the containing portion across the second optical axis of the bending optical system; and a shock absorbing unit provided between an inner surface of the containing portion of the camera main body in which the support portions are not provided and an outer surface of the optical housing facing thereto. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120081562 | DIGITAL CAMERA - A digital camera of the present invention has: an optical housing having a bending optical system for reflecting photographic object light entering along a first optical axis to a second optical axis direction perpendicular to the first optical axis to form an image on an image pickup device; a camera main body having a containing portion for containing the optical housing slidably only in the second optical axis direction and having support portions for supporting the optical housing provided on each of both sides surfaces of the containing portion across the second optical axis of the bending optical system; and a shock absorbing unit provided between an inner surface of the containing portion of the camera main body in which the support portions are not provided and an outer surface of the optical housing facing thereto. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120081561 | DIGITAL CAMERA - A digital camera of the present invention has: an optical housing having a bending optical system for reflecting photographic object light entering along a first optical axis to a second optical axis direction perpendicular to the first optical axis to form an image on an image pickup device; a camera main body having a containing portion for containing the optical housing slidably only in the second optical axis direction and having support portions for supporting the optical housing provided on each of both sides surfaces of the containing portion across the second optical axis of the bending optical system; and a shock absorbing unit provided between an inner surface of the containing portion of the camera main body in which the support portions are not provided and an outer surface of the optical housing facing thereto. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120075458 | IMAGE-CAPTURING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image-capturing device includes an image-capturing unit that generates image data, a color information acquisition unit that obtains color information from the image data, a determination unit that determines whether the image data have been generated by underwater photography or onshore photography, an underwater color balance reference setting unit that sets an underwater color balance reference that serves as a color correction reference when color correction is performed on image data picked up underwater, an underwater color correction data calculation unit that calculates underwater color correction data on the basis of the color information and the underwater color balance reference in a case where the determination unit determines that the image data have been generated by underwater photography, and a color correction unit that performs color correction on the image data generated by underwater photography on the basis of the underwater color correction data. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120069157 | DISPLAY APPARATUS - A display apparatus including a display unit that displays moving images corresponding to moving image data consisting of multiple two-dimensional images and three dimensional images that are sequentially generated chronologically. A touch panel is provided on a display screen of the display unit and receives an input of a signal corresponding to a position touched by an external object. A setting unit sets a subject contained in the moving images and specified according to an input signal received by the touch panel. A motion detector detects motion of the subject, which is set by the subject setting unit, on the basis of successive two of the two-dimensional images or the three dimensional images that are generated chronologically. A display controller causes the display unit to display the moving images as the three-dimensional images. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120057066 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A vibrating device includes a dust-screening member and a vibrating member. The dust-screening member is disposed in front of an image surface of an image forming element having the image surface in which an optical image is generated. The dust-screening member has a box shape with about the same small plate thickness as a whole, and includes, in a bottom surface portion of the box shape, a transparent part which spreads from the center of the bottom surface portion. The vibrating member is disposed outside the transparent part of the dust-screening member. The vibrating member is configured to generate, in the bottom surface portion of the dust-screening member, vibration having a vibrational amplitude which is vertical to the bottom surface portion thereof. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120057051 | IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING METHOD AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures a subject to generate image data of the subject; a display unit that displays the image; an image separating unit that separates a subject image and a background image from the image displayed; a special effect input unit that receives information related to special effects respectively applied to the subject image and the background image; a special effect image generating unit that generates a special effect image of each of the subject and background images by applying special effects corresponding to information received by the special effect input unit; a storing unit that stores special effect information for assigning an advisability corresponding to a combination of special effects which the special effect image generating unit applies to the subject image and the background image; and a synthetic image generating unit that generates a synthetic image using the generated special effect image. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120027391 | IMAGE BLUR CORRECTION APPARATUS AND CAMERA - The invention provides an image blur correction apparatus including: a tabular base portion; a movable portion that holds an image pickup device and that is movable with respect to the base portion; and a voice coil motor that has a permanent magnet arranged on a face of the base portion that faces the movable portion, and a coil arranged in a region of the movable portion facing the permanent magnet, and that generates a force that moves the movable portion by an electromagnetic force. The base portion is composed of a magnetic body. A tabular second magnetic body portion composed of a magnetic body that, when viewed from the incident light axis direction, occupies a region surrounding the external shape of the permanent magnet is arranged on the base portion side of the permanent magnet. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120019528 | DISPLAY APPARATUS, DISPLAY METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - A display apparatus includes a display unit that displays a three-dimensional image generated by combining two pieces of image data; an area selecting-setting unit that selects an adjustment area in which an offset distance, which is a virtual distance from a display screen of the display unit in a direction perpendicular to the display screen in the three-dimensional image, is adjusted; an input unit that receives a change instruction signal for giving an instruction to change the offset distance in the adjustment area; an offset-distance adjustment unit that adjusts the offset distance in the adjustment area in accordance with the change instruction signal; and a display controller that causes the display unit to display a three-dimensional image by using the two pieces of image data in which the offset distance in the adjustment area is adjusted. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120019527 | DISPLAY APPARATUS, DISPLAY METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - A display apparatus includes a display unit that displays a 3D image thereon, the 3D image being created by combining two pieces of image data in which adjacent right-side and left-side parts of respective fields of view overlap with each other; a touch panel that is provided on the display screen of the display unit and that detects a touch position of an external object or a nearby position of an object near a surface of the touch panel; and a sensitivity setting unit that sets, in accordance with the level to which the 3D image appears to protrude in a direction perpendicular to the display screen, the detection sensitivity of the touch panel. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20110304747 | IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING METHOD, COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An imaging apparatus includes a lens unit condensing light from a visual field region, an imaging unit including an imaging element which converts light condensed by the lens unit into an electric signal and continuously generating electronic image data based on the electric signal, a storage unit storing the image data generated by the imaging unit, a display unit displaying an image based on the image data generated by the imaging unit, an input unit receiving an input of a change instruction signal used to change a first capturing mode at a first vertical-to-horizontal ratio to a second capturing mode at a second vertical-to-horizontal ratio and an image trimming unit generating a captured image by trimming an image included in image data generated by the imaging unit at a vertical-to-horizontal ratio between the first and second vertical-to-horizontal ratios, when the change instruction signal is input during the first capturing mode. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110262127 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A dust-screening member is shaped like a plate as a whole. A vibrating member is adjacent to one side of the dust-screening member, arranged on the surface along the one side, and configured to produce, at the surface, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to the surface. A drive unit is configured to drive the vibrating member to produce the vibration on the surface, such that peak ridges of the vibration form a closed loop and an area including a center of the closed loop is surrounded by a node area having almost no vibrational amplitude. When a length of a side in a dust-screening member virtual rectangle corresponding to a long side of a vibrating member virtual rectangle is assumed to be LF, and a length of a long side in the vibrating member virtual rectangle is assumed to be LPFF, LPFF/LF has a dimension of 0.7. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110262126 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A dust-screening member is shaped like a plate as a whole, and has at least one side that is symmetric with respect to a virtual axis on a surface of the member. A vibrating member is adjacent to one side of the dust-screening member, arranged on the surface along the one side, and configured to produce, at the surface, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to the surface. A drive unit is configured to drive the vibrating member to produce the vibration on the surface, such that peak ridges of the vibration form a closed loop and an area including a center of the closed loop is surrounded by a node area having almost no vibrational amplitude. When a thickness of the dust-screening member is assumed to be tg and a thickness of the vibrating member is assumed to be tp, tg/tp has a dimension of 0.8. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110261246 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A dust-screening member is shaped like a plate as a whole, and has at least one side that is symmetric with respect to a virtual axis on a surface of the member. A vibrating member is adjacent to one side of the dust-screening member, arranged on the surface along the one side, and configured to produce, at the surface, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to the surface. A drive unit is configured to drive the vibrating member to produce the vibration on the surface, such that peak ridges of the vibration form a closed loop and an area including a center of the closed loop is surrounded by a node area having almost no vibrational amplitude. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110261245 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A dust-screening member is shaped like a plate as a whole. A vibrating member is adjacent to one side of the dust-screening member and arranged on the surface along the one side. A drive unit is configured to drive the vibrating member to produce a vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to the surface, on the surface, such that peak ridges of the vibration form a closed loop and an area including a center of the closed loop surrounded by a node area having almost no vibrational amplitude. When a length of a side in a dust-screening member virtual rectangle corresponding to a short side of a vibrating member virtual rectangle is assumed to be LFw, and a length of short side of the vibrating member virtual rectangle is assumed to be WE, WF/LFw has a dimension of 0.095 or greater and 0.105 or less. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110228156 | DIGITAL CAMERA - A digital camera of the present invention has: a lens group reflecting photographic object light entering along a first optical axis to a second optical axis direction perpendicular to the first optical axis and forming an image of light flux thereof on an image pickup device located on the second optical axis; and a driving force generating member blocking or allowing entering light flux along the first optical axis by driving a barrier member, and has a camera body having an optical housing, a containing portion containing the optical housing and the barrier member, and having a transmitting member transmitting driving force of the driving force generating member to the barrier member, wherein the coupling relation between the driving force generating member and the driving force transmitting member is maintained. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110221949 | SHOOTING APPARATUS - A shooting apparatus includes a camera main body, a determination unit, a display, a display controller, a touch panel. The camera main body is connectable with an independent recorder including a sound collecting range of collecting a sound. The determination unit determines whether or not the recorder is connected. The display controller displays an operation information for operating the recorder in accordance with the determined result by the determination unit, and if the recorder is connected, displays the sound collecting range of the recorder in a state that the range is overlapped on the image on the display. The touch panel receives an operation according to the operation information displayed on the display, and sends an operation instruction corresponding to the operation to the recorder. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110221910 | IMAGING DEVICE, AND SYSTEM FOR AUDIO AND IMAGE RECORDING - An imaging device includes an interface, a controller, and a recorder. The interface is connected to an external device. The interface is configured to receive divided audio data obtained by dividing data included in an audio file obtained by the external device in units of time, from the external device. The controller performs correlating an image file with the divided audio data so that the image file and divided audio data are synchronized, based on time data of the image file obtained by image shooting, and time data of the divided audio data. The controller performs sending reduced image data obtained by reducing images included in the image file, to the external device through the interface. The recorder records the image file and divided audio data. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110176028 | IMAGE-CAPTURING DEVICE, IMAGE-CAPTURING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE-CAPTURING PROGRAM - It is determined that a dynamic range of an image is to be widened when a subject lightness value is equal to or lower than a lightness value upper limit which is greater than a predetermined lightness value provided that at least either the subject lightness value is equal to or greater than the predetermined lightness value or that an image-capturing frame rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined frame rate. When a determination to widen the dynamic range is made, synthetic image data is generated by combining image data in a plurality of frames captured over varying exposure times. Then, the synthetic image data is displayed or recorded. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110158630 | ELECTRONIC PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS - In order to provide an electronic photographing apparatus capable of reduction in size and cost and obtaining a stable photographic image, the invention includes a structure having an electric circuit board and an electronic photographing apparatus constituting unit (barrel unit, strobe unit, display device unit, battery case, recording medium case) attached to the electric circuit board and a box-shaped exterior body in which the structure is inserted and housed. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110149106 | GENERATING A SYNTHESIZED IMAGE FROM A PLURALITY OF IMAGES - A plurality of images is captured, and a positional displacement between the images is determined. The images may be captured as still images or as moving images. Moving images may include, for example, images that are captured as part of the recording of a video or as live image data that is played back in real time. Different positional displacement techniques are be used to determine the positional displacement between the images, based on how the images are captured. For example, a first positional displacement technique may be used if the images are still images and a second positional displacement technique if the images are moving images. The images may then be synthesized images based on the determined positional displacement of the images to generate a synthesized image. The images may be synthesized using a weighted synthesis technique, a simple synthesis technique, or other appropriate synthesis technique. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110058085 | WATERPROOF CAMERA AND DISPLAY METHOD - A waterproof camera includes an image pickup section, a display section that displays image data, a mode setting section that sets a semi-underwater mode in which both objects under water and above water are simultaneously photographed, and a display control section that limits a display range of the display section when the semi-underwater mode is set, wherein the mode setting section controls the position of a photographing lens or the like to adjust a focus balance of at least one of under water and above water, and the display control section displays both object images under water and above water within a limited display range of the display section | 03-10-2011 |
| 20100325825 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A vibration control unit inputs an electrical signal to a vibrating member to generate, in a light-transmitting region of a dust-screening member, vibration forming a plurality of ridges of peaks defining a closed loop around a virtual intersection at which a virtual vibrational axis passing the half-length point of the vibrating member intersects with a virtual vibrational axis passing the half-length point of the dust-screening member. For example, the vibration is vibration whose peak including the virtual intersection gradually increases in terms of amplitude as the amplitude of the peak approaches the virtual intersection, and becomes the largest in terms of amplitude at the virtual intersection. The dust-screening member and the vibrating member have the following relation: 1.2≦Ts/Tg≦1.6, where Tg is the thickness of the thickness of the dust-screening member, and Ts is the thickness of the vibrating member. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100325375 | DATA-ACCESS CONTROL DEVICE AND DATA-ACCESS CONTROL METHOD - A memory control unit sequentially performs access requests to a plurality of banks A to D for a high-speed module | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100325338 | DATA TRANSMISSION CONTROL DEVICE AND DATA TRANSMISSION CONTROL METHOD - First and second modules output a predetermined volume of data at a certain rate around the same time. A setting is made so that transfer addresses from the second module are shifted relative to transfer addresses from the first module such that a bank to which the first module issues a data transfer request is in a position separate from a bank to which the second module issues a data transfer request. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100316371 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A drive unit inputs an electrical signal to the first and second vibrating members to generate, in a light-transmitting region of a dust-screening member, vibration forming peak ridges defining a closed curve around a first virtual intersection of an virtual symmetry axis at the same distance from the first and second vibrating members and a vibrational axis for both first and second vibrating members, the vibration gradually increasing as the amplitude of each vibrational peak approaches the first virtual intersection, and having a maximum amplitude at the vibrational peak including the first virtual intersection. The drive unit controls the electrical signal to move the vibrational axes of the first and second vibrating members on the virtual symmetry axis and to change the first virtual intersection to a second virtual intersection and moving a vibrational peak of maximum vibrational amplitude to a position including the second virtual intersection. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100315712 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A vibrating device includes first and second members, each shaped almost, like a rectangle and composed of first and second parts, a connection member composed of a first circuit which inputs an electrical signal to the first part, a second circuit, which outputs an electrical signal generated in the second part, and a connection part which connects the first and second circuits electrically, and a drive unit which drives the first and second members while the first and second circuits remain connected by the connection part. The first and second members are shaped symmetrically to one another in weight balance with respect to a virtual symmetry axis at the same distance from the first and second members and also to an virtual centerline connecting gravity centers of the first and second members. The second member is shaped asymmetrically in vibrational amplitude with respect to its vibrational axis. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100287502 | IMAGE SEARCH DEVICE AND IMAGE SEARCH METHOD - An image search device includes a target-image selecting unit that selects target image data from recorded image data; a target-image displaying unit that displays the selected target-image data on a display unit; a relevant-image selecting unit that selects relevant image data that contains a predetermined number of images each having at least one element item identical to the corresponding piece of element information assigned to the target image data in such a manner that the relevant image data contains at least one image that has combination of the element items that is different from combination of the element items assigned to the other relevant images; and a relevant-image displaying unit that displays, on the display unit, the selected relevant image data containing the predetermined number of the images. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100231780 | VIBRATING DEVICE AND IMAGE EQUIPMENT HAVING THE SAME - A vibrating device includes a dust-screening member shaped like a plate as a whole, a vibrating member arranged outside the dust-screening member and configured to produce, at the dust-screening member, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to a surface of the dust-screening member, a counter member spaced apart from that surface of the dust-screening member, on which the vibrating member is arranged, a pushing member configured to push the dust-screening member onto the counter member, and a first support member arranged between the counter member and the dust-screening member, surrounding a center of the dust-screening member, and configured to support the dust-screening member when pushed by the pushing member. The first support member is pushed with a pressure of 2 N or less when the pushing member pushes the first support member. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100220394 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes: an image-forming element; an optical element including a light-transmitting portion disposed so as to face an image surface of the image-forming element; a vibration-application member arranged at a position other than a position of the light-transmitting portion of the optical element, for vibrating a surface of the optical element and inside of the optical element; and a vibration-absorption member arranged at a position opposed to the vibration-application member, for absorbing a part of vibration of the optical element in a predetermined cycle, wherein when a wavelength of vibration generated in the optical element by vibration of the vibration-application member is defined as λ, and an odd number as k, the vibration-application member and the vibration-absorption member are arranged separately from each other at positions on the optical element such that a distance between centers of the members is expressed by k×λ/4. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100188516 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND CAMERA SHAKE CORRECTING APPARATUS APPLIED TO IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel unit having a photographing optical system, an image pickup unit that is displaced two-dimensionally to correct camera shake, a FPC that has a first extending section connected to the image pickup device and extending on a surface of the lens barrel unit and a second extending section that is bent at an end of the first extending section and fixed to the surface of the lens barrel unit, and a guide plate that guides the first extending section on the surface of the lens barrel unit, wherein when the image pickup unit moves in an X direction, a bent section is bent to absorb an amount of movement in the X direction, and when the image pickup unit moves in a Y direction, the first extending section bends to absorb an amount of movement in the Y direction. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100157084 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD USED IN IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts an object image to generate image data; a face detecting unit that detects a face in the generated image data; and a number-of-people detecting unit that detects the number of faces detected in the image data based on a face detection result by the face detecting unit. The imaging apparatus also includes a feature determining unit that determines a feature of the detected face based on a face detection result by the face detecting unit; a face selecting unit that selects a face that satisfies a predetermined correction condition set in advance among the detected faces based on at least one of a detection result of the number of people and a determination result of the feature; and a face-image processing unit that performs a predetermined correction process on at least the selected face. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100097401 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An image processing device includes an image input section receiving the input of an image, an image converter generating a converted image by magnifying or reducing the image, the input of which is received by the image input section, based on a predetermined conversion magnification, a small moving object probe specifying a small moving object area, which is an image area including a small moving object, in the image, the input of which is received by the image input section, a small moving object area converter generating a magnified image of the small moving object by magnifying the small moving object area, which is specified by the small moving object probe, and an image generator generating a synthetic image by synthesizing the magnified image of the small moving object generated by the small moving object area converter with the converted image generated by the image converter. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100091121 | DIGITAL CAMERA - A digital camera of the invention includes: an image pickup device; a dust-proof filter including an area disposed so as to face an image pickup surface of the image pickup device with a predetermined distance; a piezoelectric device for vibration application for vibrating not only a surface of the dust-proof filter but also inside of the dust-proof filter; and a piezoelectric device for vibration absorption for absorbing a part of vibration of the dust-proof filter in a predetermined cycle. When a wavelength of vibration generated in the dust-proof filter by vibration of the piezoelectic device for vibration application is defined as λ, and an odd number as k, the piezoelectric device for vibration application and the piezoelectric device for vibration absorption are arranged separately from each other at positions on the dust-proof filter such that a distance between centers of the devices is expressed by k×λ/4. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20090290028 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - An electronic camera | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090273663 | IMAGE FILE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE FILE REPRODUCTION APPARATUS AND IMAGE FILE WORKING/EDITING APPARATUS - The present invention is provided with: a stereo image data generation unit for generating stereo image data indicating multiple monocular images obtained with a predetermined parallax between the images for a same subject; a metadata generation unit for generating metadata about the stereo image data; an image characteristic information generation unit for generating image characteristic information showing characteristics of an image indicated on the basis of the stereo image data; and an image file generation unit for synthesizing the stereo image data generated by the stereo image data generation unit and the metadata generated by the metadata generation unit to generate an image file; wherein the image file generation unit adds the image characteristic information generated by the image characteristic information generation unit to the metadata generated by the metadata generation unit. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090268042 | DRIVING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An X-axis driving mechanism section as one of driving sources of a driving apparatus including: a transducer for generating an elliptical vibration on a driving section in response to application of a predetermined frequency voltage signal; a bottom case having a holding section for holding the transducer; a pressing mechanism arranged on the bottom case to press the driving section of the transducer; and a rod relatively driven by the elliptical vibration of the transducer while being pressed by the pressing mechanism and with a moving direction being restricted by a guiding section of the holding member; wherein a weight is fixed to an end portion of the rod. The X-axis driving mechanism section constitutes the driving apparatus which is small and provides a large driving force, is capable of stable driving with higher efficiency without producing audible noise, and can retain the rod position and has high responsiveness with high accuracy. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090263007 | Stereoscopic image recording device and program - If horizontal viewpoint quantity information Nx and vertical viewpoint quantity information Ny are predetermined quantities, a value of the aspect ratio of the output image data to be finally output satisfies a predetermined condition, and a 3D identification mark is contained in the output image data, then an image recording device adds a first extension as general-purpose 3D image data which can also be used in a conventional device and records it. Accordingly, when 3D image data is output (displayed and printed) in a conventional device, image data which can be used as 3D image data (which can be viewed as a stereoscopic image) can be output as general-purpose image data while image data which cannot be used as 3D image data in the conventional device is not output as image data. This prevents a confusion of general users. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090248906 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT AND CONNECTION PROCESSING METHOD - Wireless communication equipment which associates with a plurality of sets of peripheral equipment present in a prescribed range through wireless communication stores identification code information regarding the associated peripheral equipment, acquires identification code information from the peripheral equipment present in the prescribed range, and determines whether or not the peripheral equipment has already associated on the basis of the identification code information. If the peripheral equipment has not been associated, the wireless communication equipment stores the identification code information by associating them with an image. If the peripheral equipment has been associated, the wireless communication equipment displays the associated image stored by associating them with the acquired identification code information, and connects to the corresponding peripheral equipment in response to the selection of the displayed and associated image. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090231537 | PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS UNIT AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A lens unit fixed inside a lens barrel frame of a lens unit and is provided with a liquid crystal lens including a liquid crystal optical element constituted of a plurality of transparent electrode plates which are held in a liquid crystal lens holder, an imaging element arranged on the image side of the liquid crystal lens, a board, an imaging element support plate, and a two-dimensional drive mechanism, and the liquid crystal lens holder includes first and second retention members. The first retention member includes a first positioning section for performing positioning in an X-Y plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the liquid crystal lens, and a second positioning section for specifying an optical axis direction. The second retention member includes a connection section covering the liquid crystal lens and connecting with the second positioning section. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090195650 | VIRTUAL IMAGE GENERATING APPARATUS, VIRTUAL IMAGE GENERATING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING VIRTUAL IMAGE GENERATING PROGRAM - A virtual image generation apparatus includes an image recording unit configured to record a plurality of images, each containing photography position data. An image selection unit selects, from the images recorded, an image from which to generate a virtual image. A map-image acquiring unit acquires an image corresponding to a map image containing the photography position data contained in the image selected A virtual scene image generation unit generates, from the image corresponding to the map image, a virtual image showing the image selected or showing a scene related to the photography position data contained in the image selected. An output unit outputs the virtual image data, thereby to display the scene represented by the virtual image generated. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090190240 | LENS BARREL AND ELECTRON IMAGING DEVICE USING THE SAME - The inventive lens barrel comprises: a first group frame | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090185071 | Portable Electronic Apparatus - A portable electronic apparatus includes an exterior member which houses a main body of the apparatus and has an opening, a part of the main body being exposed through the opening; a lid which is attached to the exterior member so as to cover or uncover the opening; a hook which is provided in an area of the main body to be covered with the lid and on which a small loop for attachment of a strap is hooked; and a projection which projects from the lid and which comes in contact with a head part of the hook with the lid closed. A boundary surface of the covered area, the hook, and the projection forms a closed planar area with the lid closed. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090141795 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A NUMBER OF ITEMS OF ENCODED DATA THAT CAN BE STORED IN A MEMORY, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SIZES OF ITEMS OF ENCODED IMAGE DATA TO BE STORED IN A MEMORY - Methods are provided for an apparatus which encodes items of data by variable-length coding and which stores the encoded items of data in a memory, wherein a size of one of the items of encoded data is variable by varying a value of a control parameter of the variable-length coding. One method includes: determining an amount of available memory space in the memory; determining a value of the control parameter for the variable-length coding of the items of data; and determining a number of items of encoded data that can be stored in the available memory space, based on an upper limit of the size of one of the items of encoded data at the determined value of the control parameter. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090135298 | DIGITAL CAMERA - A digital camera of the present invention has: an optical housing having a bending optical system for reflecting photographic object light entering along a first optical axis to a second optical axis direction perpendicular to the first optical axis to form an image on an image pickup device; a camera main body having a containing portion for containing the optical housing slidably only in the second optical axis direction and having support portions for supporting the optical housing provided on each of both side surfaces of the containing portion across the second optical axis of the bending optical system; and shock absorbing means provided between an inner surface of the containing portion of the camera main body in which the support portions are not provided and an outer surface of the optical housing facing thereto. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090135286 | DIGITAL CAMERA - A digital camera of the present invention has: a lens group reflecting photographic object light entering along a first optical axis to a second optical axis direction perpendicular to the first optical axis and forming an image of light flux thereof on an image pickup device located on the second optical axis; and a driving force generating member blocking or allowing entering light flux along the first optical axis by driving a barrier member, and has a camera body having an optical housing, a containing portion containing the optical housing and the barrier member, and having a transmitting member transmitting driving force of the driving force generating member to the barrier member, wherein the coupling relation between the driving force generating member and the driving force transmitting member is maintained. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090109281 | Method, Device and Program for Processing Stereoscopic Images and Recording Medium Storing the Program - A stereoscopic image processing method capable of preventing occurrence of undesirable cutout of image when a stereoscopic combined image is printed out is provided. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090086039 | Compound lens and camera comprising the same - A compound lens on which a plastic lens is formed on a glass lens, having:
| 04-02-2009 |
| 20090028535 | WATERPROOF HOUSING - A waterproof housing is provided with an engaging member that can engage with rotary members provided respectively on a plurality of cameras. The rotary members can be rotated from the outside of the waterproof housing. Accordingly, the plurality of cameras can be stored and operated selectively in a single waterproof housing. For example, the engaging member can be configured in such a manner that a plurality of multiple recessed portions are provided concentrically so that each one of the plurality of rotary members can be fitted to any one of the recessed portion out of the multiple recessed portions. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090014297 | SWITCH MECHANISM USABLE UNDERWATER - A switch mechanism usable underwater including a cover serving as an exterior member, a shaft member displaceable in a longitudinal direction and fitted into a shaft hole having substantially the same cross-sectional area provided in the cover, an O-ring maintaining a water-tight sliding seal between the shaft member and the shaft hole, and a lever member movable about an axis for moving the shaft member by application of a pressing force applied to the lever member in a first direction against a force of a bias member, the pressing force being applied at a first point which is a first distance from said axis, the lever member engaging the shaft at a second point a second distance from said axis which is less than said first distance to move the lever member in a second direction opposite said first direction when the pressing force is removed. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090009657 | DRIVE APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An anti-vibration unit has: an X-axis transducer generating elliptical vibration in drivers; a frame which is a fixing member having a holding portion for holding the X-axis transducer; an X frame having fixed thereto a slide element to which the drivers of the X-axis transducer are pressed and which moves in the X-axis direction with respect to the frame; a Y-axis transducer held by a holding portion provided in the X-frame and generating elliptical vibration in drivers; and a Y frame having fixed thereto a slide element to which the drivers of the Y-axis transducer are pressed and which moves in the Y-axis direction with respect to the X frame. The X-axis transducer and the Y-axis transducer have substantially same resonant frequency, and the slide elements differ in at least one of rigidity and density thereof, thereby providing a drive apparatus down-sized, large in driving force and high in efficiency. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090009617 | Imaging apparatus - The object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of preventing the degradation of image quality associated with a temperature rise in an image pickup device despite that an electronic viewfinder is usable. An imaging apparatus including an image pickup device for capturing a subject image to acquire it as image data and capable of viewing a subject by selecting either of a first finder mode for optical viewing of the subject image and a second finder mode for displaying the image data on a display unit to allow viewing of the image data, the imaging apparatus comprises: a temperature detection circuit for measuring the temperature of the image pickup device; a finder mode switching instruction part for switching between the first finder mode and the second finder mode; and a controller for inhibiting switching from the first finder mode to the second finder mode performed by the finder mode switching instruction part when the temperature exceeds a first threshold. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090003814 | DRIVING APPARATUS - An anti-vibration unit serving as a driving apparatus has an X axis transducer having a driver, a fixed frame having an X axis transducer holding part, an X frame having a sliding body against which the driver is pressed by a pressing plate with an anti-vibration sheet and a holder interposed therebetween, a Y axis transducer having a driver, and a Y frame having a sliding body against which the driver is pressed by the pressing plate with the anti-vibration sheet and the holder interposed therebetween. The anti-vibration sheet is narrower than the transducer, and grease is applied to one of the surfaces of the anti-vibration sheet and the pressing plate in contact with each other, so that the drivers are in proper contact with the sliding bodies, and the sliding bodies are efficiently driven. The driving apparatus is compact and produces high driving force with high efficiency. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090003812 | IMAGE STABILIZER - An image stabilizer includes a fixed member, a first movable member, a second movable member, and a position sensor. The fixed member includes a first actuator arranged near a first side of an imaging device in parallel with the first side. The first movable member includes a second actuator arranged near a second side perpendicular to the first side in parallel with the second side and moves, when driven by the first actuator, in the direction of the first side. The second movable member has the imaging device mounted thereon and moves, when driven by the second actuator, in the direction of the second side. The position sensor detects the relative position of the imaging device moved by the first and second actuators. The first and second actuators are located near an intersection of the longitudinal axes of them not to interfere with each other. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090002549 | ELECTRONIC CAMERA - An electronic camera includes an imaging device, a drive printed circuit board, a camera main body, an air inlet, an air outlet, and a cooling fan. The imaging device is located inside the camera main body on the optical axis of an imaging lens attached to the camera main body, and receives light passing through the imaging lens to form an image. The drive printed circuit board includes an imaging control device for controlling the imaging device. The camera main body includes a held portion that is located off the optical axis and configured to be held by an operator, and a monitor on its outer surface. The air inlet and the air outlet are located outside the held portion on the outer surface of the camera main body each on either side of the drive printed circuit board. The cooling fan generates an air flow inside the camera main body from the air inlet to the air outlet through the drive printed circuit board. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090002500 | DRIVE DEVICE AND IMAGE STABILIZER - A drive device includes an actuator, a fixed member, a movable member, rotating members, and a guide member. The actuator is arranged on the fixed member, and includes a piezoelectric element and at least two drivers on the piezoelectric element in parallel with the central axis of the piezoelectric element. The movable member moves by the drivers on the fixed member. The rotating members are located between the fixed member and the movable member to support the movable member. The guide member is arranged on at least one of the fixed member and the movable member, and guides movement of the rotating members in a direction parallel to the central axis of the piezoelectric element. The drivers are located between the rotating members in the direction parallel to the central axis of the piezoelectric element. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20080316344 | IMAGE PICKUP ELEMENT MODULE, AND LENS UNIT AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING IMAGE PICKUP ELEMENT MODULES - In an image pickup element module, a heat releasing member disposed to be thermally coupled to an FPC substrate and an image pickup element is formed of a PPS resin material having good thermal conductivity. Further, this image pickup element module is configured so that a phase-changing heat storage which is insert-molded or formed into a sheet shape is disposed to be thermally coupled to the heat releasing member. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080308396 | SWITCH MECHANISM USABLE UNDERWATER - The present invention provides a switch mechanism usable underwater including a rear cover serving as an exterior member, two shaft members being displaceable in a shaft direction and fitting into two shaft holes having the same cross-sectional area provided in the rear cover, an O-ring watertightly maintaining the shaft member and the shaft hole, and a lever member being engaged with the two shaft members in a manner to be capable of pressing-down or pulling-up the shaft member, and being configured to balance water pressure applied to one shaft member with that applied to the other shaft member. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080272767 | POSITION DETECTING CIRCUIT AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A position detecting circuit provided in an imaging apparatus having an optical system that images a subject image, an imaging element that performs photoelectric conversion of the subject image, and a release switch capable of setting states of two stages includes: a plurality of magnetic field change detecting elements that detect the intensity of a magnetic field formed by a magnetic field generating body attached to either the optical system or the imaging element and that are provided so as to be separated from each other; a position detecting portion that detects the position of the magnetic field generating body on the basis of outputs from the plurality of magnetic field change detecting elements; and a standby portion that stops a function of at least one of the position detecting portion and the plurality of magnetic field change detecting elements until a first stage of the release switch is set. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080267601 | Interchangeable lens type digital camera - An interchangeable lens type digital camera includes a camera main body and an interchangeable lens. The camera main body includes a control section which communicates with an interchangeable lens, and controls focus adjustment of the interchangeable lens by a hill-climbing AF system. A judgment section judges a characteristic of the interchangeable lens on the basis of communication between the interchangeable lens and the control section. The interchangeable lens includes a focus lens for performing focus adjustment. A focus lens drive section drives the focus lens. A lens control section communicates with the control section, and controls the focus lens drive section to perform focus adjustment. The control section changes a previously determined drive enabled range of the focus lens on the basis of a judgment result of the judgment section to perform focus adjustment of the interchangeable lens. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080219657 | Portable Electronic Apparatus - A portable electronic apparatus includes an exterior member which has an opening and houses a main body. A part of the main body is exposed through the opening. The apparatus also includes a lid which is attached to the exterior member so as to cover or uncover the opening; and a strap attaching part provided on an area of the part of the main body. The area is covered with the lid, and a strap with a small loop is attachable to the strap attaching part. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080212955 | Focus detecting device - A focus detecting device includes a focus detecting optical system which forms a plurality of object images. A photoelectric conversion element array includes a plurality of pixels and subjects each of the plural object images formed by the focus detecting optical system to photoelectric conversion. An electric charge transfer path transfers an electric charge obtained by the photoelectric conversion subjected by the photoelectric conversion element array. A focus detecting section performs focus detection with respect to a plurality of focus areas on the basis of a signal associated with an electric charge transferred by the electric charge transfer path. A plurality of effective pixel regions corresponding to the plural focus areas are arranged in the arrangement direction of the pixels of the photoelectric conversion element array, and ineffective pixel regions are arranged between the plural effective pixel regions. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080199172 | PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus, for controlling actual flash amount at the time of exposure based on an amount of reflected light from a predetermined metering region of a screen, comprises a first screen dividing section for dividing the screen into a first region, constituting a candidate for the metering region, and a second region other than that by comparing first feature data of image data that has been acquired by performing pre-flash before actual flash and second feature data of image data taken without performing pre-flash, a second screen dividing section for dividing the screen into a third region, being a region of an image having a predetermined feature, and a fourth region other than that, an image evaluation section for evaluating whether to include in the metering region or remove from the metering region based on different evaluation criteria according to whether the image of the third region or the fourth region belongs to the first region, or belongs to the second region, and a flash amount control section for controlling actual flash amount based on reflected light amount from regions that have been included in the metering region by the image evaluation section. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080198258 | Single lens reflex type electronic imaging apparatus - There is disclosed an electronic imaging apparatus capable of selecting a first observation mode in which a subject image is observed using an optical finder and a second observation mode in which the subject image is acquired as image data from an image pickup device and is displayed in a monitor. In this electronic imaging apparatus, subject information (e.g., a person position) recognized based on the image data from the image pickup device in the second observation mode is succeeded even in the first observation mode, and shooting conditions can be set based on the subject information even in the first observation mode. | 08-21-2008 |
