34th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 22 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090207197 | Method of Generating Ink Amount Data, Device for Generating Ink Amount Data, and Program Thereof - Provided is a method of generating ink amount data which is the used amounts of inks of respective colors when an image is printed, by analyzing image data of the image, the method including: extracting a character area, of which a saturation value is equal to or less than a predetermined value, from the image by analyzing the image data; dividing the character area into a character contour area which is a contour part of the character and a character inside area which is the inside of the character; and converting the image data of the character contour area and the image data of the character inside area into the ink amount data of at least one type of achromatic color ink and at least three types of chromatic color inks, wherein the converting of the ink amount data includes converting the image data of the areas into the ink amount data such that the chromatic color inks are largely used in the character inside area compared with the character contour area. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207198 | Offset printing method using inkjet system and product printed thereby - An offset printing method using an inkjet system, and a printed product printed thereby. The offset printing method includes a first step of printing a UV ink image on a flat original plate by inkjet using UV-ink, a second step of irradiating the UV ink image with a UV or an electron beam while or immediately after printing the UV ink image, so as to bring the UV ink image into a semi-dried state, a third step of transferring the semi-dried UV ink image to a surface of an elastic blanket, a fourth step of offset-printing the UV ink image transferred to the elastic blanket onto a to-be-printed product, and a step of drying and fixing the offset-printed UV ink image. Viscosity of the UV ink in the first step is set as 3-100 mPaS at 30° C., and viscosity of the UV ink in the second step is set as viscosity equivalent to 0.1-300 PaS at 25° C. in standard UV ink. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207199 | Liquid tank and ink jet printing apparatus - There is provided a liquid tank having a liquid remaining amount sensing module that makes it possible to reliably determine that the amount of ink has reached a predetermined value, in spite of its simple and compact configuration. In the ink tank, an information storage element and a module are provided on a ceiling portion of an ink accommodating chamber directly accommodating ink; the module having an optical reflector that faces downward in a vertical direction. A housing of the ink tank is composed of a transparent resin. Infrared light from an external light emitting section is incident on the optical reflector. The reflected light is received by a light receiving section and then, the quantity of light is measured. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207200 | LIQUID DISCHARGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DISCHARGING LIQUID - A liquid discharging apparatus stores data transmitted at each timing of a predetermined period in first storage units for the each timing and discharges liquid droplets from nozzles based on the data stored in the first storage units for the each timing. The liquid discharging apparatus includes the nozzles and the first storage units, which are disposed for the nozzles for storing the data for controlling discharge of the liquid droplets from the nozzles. A second storage unit is used for storing the data transmitted at a timing. A data selecting unit is used for selecting whether to store the data transmitted at another timing after the timing in the first storage unit or to store the data stored in the second storage unit in the first storage unit when the data is stored in the first storage units at the each timing. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207201 | METHOD FOR SETTING UP DRIVE SIGNAL - A method for setting up a condition for a drive signal in a liquid ejection head that includes a plurality of linearly-arranged nozzles and driving elements provided for each of the nozzles, includes: calculating an average value or a median value of ejection rates for each nozzle relating to a supply of the drive signal under a plurality of conditions; classifying the plurality of nozzles into a plurality of groups based on the average value or the median value of the ejection rates; calculating a proper condition for the drive signal corresponding to each group based on a statistical value of the ejection rate relating to the group; and selecting one proper condition among proper conditions corresponding to the groups so as to set the selected proper condition for each nozzle. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207202 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus includes a recording head having a common liquid channel; plural pressure chambers; plural nozzles; plural individual liquid channels, each individual liquid channel extending from the common liquid channel via associated pressure chamber to associated nozzle; and plural actuators configured to impart a pressure to a liquid inside a respective one of the pressure chambers; and a control unit configured to drive the actuators; wherein the control unit comprises: an excessive state detection section configured to detect an excessive state in which a pressure difference between a liquid-side pressure and an air-side pressure at a meniscus formed at any one of the nozzles exceeds a threshold value when droplets are ejected from the nozzles, and a meniscus vibration section configured to drive the actuator associated with the nozzle that does not eject droplets such that the meniscus is subjected to vibration without ejecting the droplets. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207203 | INK JET RECORDING APPARATUS AND INK JET RECORDING METHOD - The ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet head configured to discharge UV ink onto a printed article fed in a feeding direction, an ultraviolet irradiation device having a single light source capable of irradiating light including a first wave length zone to reform a surface of the printed article and a second wave length zone for hardening the UV ink, and a controller configured to control the light source so as to emit light in the first wave length zone and light in the second wave length zone. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207204 | Printing apparatus capable of adjusting ink temperature - A printing apparatus is capable of printing images by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles. The printing apparatus includes: a drive signal generation unit which generates ejectable drive pulses for ejecting ink droplets based on image data indicating the number of ink droplets for each pixel, and outputs the ejectable drive pulses to the nozzles; and a temperature measuring unit which measures the temperature of the ink. The drive signal generation unit also outputs non-ejectable drive pulses to the nozzle when the ink temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature. The non-ejectable drive pulses are generated and output in order that even when the nozzle is driven by the non-ejectable drive pulses, no ink droplet is ejected. It is therefore possible to provide, without substantially increasing the production cost, the printing apparatus which can elevate the ink temperature irrespective of the print coverage when the ink temperature is low. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207205 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising nozzles capable of ejecting a liquid onto a medium, a rotational drum including a circumferential surface having a holding area for holding the medium and a non-holding area provided with an opening, wherein the circumferential surface rotates while facing the nozzles, and an absorptive drum which is provided inside the rotational drum which is capable of absorbing the liquid ejected from the nozzles toward the opening of the outer circumference in order to perform a flushing operation. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207206 | MAINTENANCE METHOD OF FLUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A maintenance method of a fluid ejecting apparatus having a fluid ejection head. A cap member faces an ejection region of the ejection head and a portion thereof facing the ejection region covers a space that includes the ejection surface. When the space covered by the cap member is to be uncovered, the facing portion of the cap member is tilted with respect to the ejection head. Fluid is then ejected from a first portion of the ejection region toward a predetermined region of the facing portion. The ejection head is then moved, and a second portion of the ejection region behind the first portion is positioned so as to overlap the predetermined region in a plan view. Fluid is then ejected from the second portion toward the predetermined region, and the potential difference resulting from the ejection of the fluid from the ejection head is detected. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207207 | Method And A Device For Moving A Jet Member - A device for moving a jet member ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090207208 | Nozzle Arrangement Using Unevenly Heated Thermal Actuators - A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer comprises a wafer defining an ink supply channel and a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel; a drive circuitry layer positioned on the wafer; a plurality of actuator devices positioned on the wafer and the drive circuitry layer to cover the nozzle chamber, each actuator device comprising an internal serpentine conductive core surrounded by a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer; and an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. The plurality of actuator devices are radially positioned around the ink ejection port and adapted to bend into the nozzle chamber, and the internal serpentine conductive core is disposed within the PTFE layer to heat the PTFE layer unevenly. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207209 | Print Engine Cradle With Maintenance Assembly - A cradle unit for use in a print engine to receive a cartridge unit that has a printhead assembly. The cradle unit has a main body with an opening for receiving the cartridge and drive rollers for feeding sheets of media past the printhead assembly, a printed circuit board (PCB) movably mounted to the main body, the PCB having control electronics for operative control of the print engine, a cover assembly movably mounted to the main body, the cover assembly being configured for securing the cartridge in the opening and engaging the PCB such that the PCB is moved into electrical contact with the cartridge when in a closed position, and to move the PCB out of electrical connection with the cartridge when in an open position and, a maintenance assembly operated by the PCB control electronics for capping and wiping the printhead assembly. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207210 | LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD - A recording head including outlets disposed in a staggered pattern so that the distances from an ink inlet to the outlets differ alternately for adjacent outlets. A recording head includes an outlet group including a plurality of outlets on at least one side of an ink inlet. The outlet group includes first outlets and second outlets, wherein the distance from the ink inlet to the first outlets differs from the distance from the ink inlet to the second outlets. First recording elements and second recording elements including heat resistors are provided. The first recording elements and second recording elements correspond to the first outlets and the second outlets, respectively, and are disposed in first ink channels and second ink channels, respectively. The first recording elements are rectangular, whereas the second recording elements are substantially square. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207211 | LIQUID JET HEAD AND A LIQUID JET APPARATUS - A liquid jet head includes: a pressure generation chamber | 2009-08-20 |
20090207212 | LIQUID EJECTION HEAD AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A liquid ejection head includes a flow channel-forming substrate having a plurality of pressure-generating chambers communicated with nozzles configured to eject droplets, the plurality of pressure-generating chambers being arranged in parallel with each other; a plurality of pressure-applying units configured to apply pressure to interiors of the pressure-generating chambers; and a joining substrate joined onto one surface of the flow channel-forming substrate. The flow channel-forming substrate includes a silicon single crystal substrate having a ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090207213 | LIQUID JET HEAD AND A LIQUID JET APPARATUS - Provided is a liquid jet head including: a flow path forming substrate having formed therein a row of pressure generating chambers, each of which is communicated with a nozzle opening; a piezoelectric element which is provided in each of the pressure generating chambers via a vibration plate formed of a plurality of layers; and a bonding substrate which is bonded to a piezoelectric element forming side of the flow path forming substrate, in which: a groove is formed in a region of the vibration plate surrounding the piezoelectric element so as to extend to an interface of the plurality of layers or extend over the interface; and an insulator formed of an inorganic insulating material is formed in the groove. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207214 | PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT SUBSTRATE, LIQUID DROPLET EJECTING HEAD, LIQUID DROPLET EJECTING DEVICE, AND PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT SUBSTRATE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A piezoelectric element substrate is provided with a support substrate, an insulating orientation auxiliary layer formed on the support substrate, a lower electrode layer formed on the orientation auxiliary layer so that an uncoated portion where the orientation auxiliary layer is not coated with the lower electrode layer is constituted at least a portion thereof, a piezoelectric substance layer formed on the lower electrode layer and the uncoated portion of the orientation auxiliary layer, and an upper electrode layer formed on the piezoelectric substance layer, wherein the orientation auxiliary layer and the piezoelectric substance layer comprise a material of the same crystal system. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207215 | TOOL FOR ASSISTING THE REMOVAL FROM AN INK JET PRINTER OF A CONTAINER USED TO SUPPLY FLUID TO THE PRINTER | 2009-08-20 |
20090207216 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS INCORPORATING THE SAME - A liquid ejecting head includes: a reservoir provided along a direction, the reservoir including a first area and a second area of a width smaller than that of the first area in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the pressure generating chambers are parallelly-arranged; and compliance member provided in an area corresponding to the reservoir. The compliance member includes a first compliance section formed at one of the upper and lower surface sides of the reservoir and a second compliance section formed at the other of the upper and lower surface sides of the reservoir. The first compliance section is formed at an area corresponding to both the first area and the second area of the reservoir, and the second compliance section is not formed in at least an area corresponding to a part of the first area. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207217 | INK TANK AND INK JET CARTRIDGE - An ink tank includes a first channel extending in the form of a groove on an external part of the tank in connection with an atmospheric communicating port. The tank also includes a second channel which branches off from the first channel and joins this again and which has a capillary force greater than that of the first channel. Even when some amount of ink has flowed out of the atmospheric communicating port, the capillary force generated in the second channel acts to hold the ink in the channel. Additionally, even when ink is stored in the second channel, the first channel is not closed, and the pressure in the tank is therefore kept in equilibrium with the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, there is little possibility that the ink in the second channel will be pushed out even when the ambient temperature changes. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207218 | LIQUID CONTAINER - A liquid container attachable to a liquid consuming apparatus includes a supplying portion, a containing portion and a first rigid member. The supplying portion has a supplying opening and supplies a liquid to the liquid consuming apparatus in a state that the liquid container is attached to the liquid consuming apparatus. The containing portion is connected to the supplying portion, the containing portion containing the liquid, the containing portion being made of a flexible sheet material. The containing portion has a first side portion, a bottom portion positioned at a bottom of the containing portion in a state that the liquid container is attached to the liquid consuming apparatus and a first bottom-side sealed portion formed by joining edge portions of the first side portion and the bottom portion. The first rigid member is arranged along the first side portion and over an upper end of the first bottom-side sealed portion. The first rigid member is made of a material of higher rigidity than the flexible sheet material, whereby the first rigid member restricts displacement of the first bottom-side sealed portion in a lateral direction. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207219 | Mechanized Feed Channel Barrier In A Solid Ink Printer - A method is implemented to control movement of a solid ink stick from an insertion port to a corresponding feed channel to help ensure that each feed channel in a plurality of feed channels contains only ink sticks corresponding to the feed channel. The method includes receiving solid ink sticks in an insertion port located at one end of a feed channel in the solid ink printer, identifying each ink stick received in the insertion port, and removing a passage barrier from the feed channel in response to the ink stick being identified as corresponding to ink configured for passage through the feed channel. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207220 | Solid Ink Stick with Witness Mark - A solid ink stick comprises an ink stick body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The plurality of side surfaces defines a perimeter of the ink stick body. At least one key contour is formed in at least one side surface in the plurality of side surfaces extending at least partially between the top surface and the bottom surface. A witness mark is formed along at least a portion of the perimeter of the ink stick body with a portion of the witness mark following the at least one key contour. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207221 | METHOD OF RECONFIGURING INK STICKS - A solid ink stick comprises an ink stick body formed of a phase change ink material. The ink stick body has a plurality of exterior surfaces arranged in a first ink stick body configuration. At least one simulation surface is formed in the ink stick body. The at least one simulation surface simulates a second ink stick body configuration. The simulation surface is functionally significant though may not extend around the full perimeter of the ink stick body or to the full plurality of exterior surfaces. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207222 | LIQUID INJECTING HEAD, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING LIQUID INJECTING HEAD, AND LIQUID INJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid injecting head includes a first supply member and a second supply member in which the liquid supplying path is formed and a filter that is pinched by the first supply member and the second supply member and is disposed in correspondence with the liquid supplying path. In areas that surround the liquid supplying path of the first supply member and the second supply member on the filter side and face each other, filter pinching parts that are brought into contact with the filter are included and concave parts that surround the filter pinching parts are included on the outer side of the filter pinching parts. In addition, the first supply member, the filter, and the second supply member are bonded together by a bonding resin that is formed by flowing into the concave parts of the first supply member and the second supply member | 2009-08-20 |
20090207223 | PRINTING OR COATING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An inkjet printing apparatus for printing on a substrate comprises a first support, which is a substrate support, and a second support which supports at least one inkjet printing head, at least one UV source of ultraviolet radiation, and at least one gas dispenser. The second support is moveable relative to a substrate supported by the first support. The printing head deposits ink on the substrate and the UV source cures the deposited ink. The gas dispenser is arranged to provide a layer of gas, which is at least depleted of oxygen, between the UV source and the substrate. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207224 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A printing apparatus for printing on a substrate comprises a first support for the substrate and a second support moveable relative to the first support. The second support supports an inkjet print head and at least one plasma source. The print head and plasma source move with the support to apply plasma to the substrate and to deposit ink on the substrate treated with the plasma. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207225 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING METHOD OF RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus includes: a supporting member that has a supporting surface for supporting a target to which a liquid is ejected; a heating apparatus that heats the supporting member; a transport unit that transports the target from an upstream side of the supporting member to a downstream side while sliding the target on the supporting surface; and a recording unit that, when a direction in which the target supported on the supporting surface is transported is a main scanning direction, repeatedly performs a moving operation in the main scanning direction in which the liquid is ejected to a recording area of the target to perform recording and a moving operation in a sub-scanning direction in which no liquid is ejected, thereby performing recording on the recording area of the target. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207226 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING PATTERN - The invention presents a pattern forming apparatus including: an intermediate transfer body; a particle supply unit, for forming a liquid receptive particle layer of a specified layer thickness by supplying liquid receptive particles, capable of receiving a recording liquid containing recording material and also capable of trapping the recording material at the surface thereof, onto the intermediate transfer body; a liquid droplet ejection unit for ejecting liquid droplets of the recording liquid on the liquid receptive particle layer on the basis of specified data, and forming a pattern of the recording material near the surface of the liquid receptive particle layer; and a transferring unit, for transferring the liquid receptive particle layer containing the recording liquid onto a transfer object, so that the pattern is placed between the transfer object (recording medium) and the liquid receptive particle layer. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207227 | Liquid ejecting apparatus - A liquid ejecting head is adapted to eject liquid toward a target medium. A transporter is adapted to transport a tray on which the target medium is mounted toward a region facing the liquid ejecting head via a transporting path. A tray guide is disposed in a front side of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and having a supporting face adapted to support the tray thereon. The tray guide is movable between a first position connecting the supporting face with the transporting path to allow the transporter to transport the tray to the transporting path and a second position escaping the supporting face from the transporting path. The supporting face is kept being parallel to the transporting path when the tray guide is moved between the first position and the second position. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207228 | METHOD OF FORMING IMAGE BY THERMAL TRANSFER - A method of forming an image, including the steps of superposing a heat-sensitive transfer sheet on a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet, and applying thermal energy from a side of a heat-resistant lubricating layer of the heat-sensitive transfer sheet, to transfer a thermally transferable dye in a thermal transfer layer to a receptor layer, thereby forming a thermally transferred image. The heat-sensitive transfer sheet and the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheets, including constituent layers and components thereof, are as described herein. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207229 | Thermal print head and method for manufacturing same - A thermal printhead A includes a glaze layer | 2009-08-20 |
20090207230 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CONTROL PROGRAM - An image forming apparatus which concurrently exposes by multiple laser beams corresponding to M lines on the photoreceptor, comprising: multiple light sources for emitting laser beams; a memory section for storing the image data; a control section to control the plurality of light sources, wherein the control section is capable of controlling image formation by: a first mode for reading-out of image data for M lines, exposing by multiple light sources of M lines according to the image data for M lines, and forming an image at a predetermined sub-scanning direction image formation speed of VM; and a second mode for reading-out of image data for N lines (where N2009-08-20 | |
20090207231 | DUAL MIRROR ILLUMINATION SYSTEM FOR BOOK COPIER - A scanner comprising a platen positioned along a first plane and configured to support an article to be scanned; one or more illuminators positioned below the platen along a second plane parallel to the first plane, and configured to emit light beams; one or more mirrors positioned between the platen and the one or more illuminators, each of the mirrors being configured to direct a light beam having a directional component parallel to the first and second planes emitted by the illuminators onto the article on the platen at the imaging point; one or more sensors configured to detect the light reflecting off the article at the imaging point along a sensor optical path; and a carriage mechanism constructed to affect relative movement parallel to the first and second planes between platen, and the one or more illuminators and the one or more mirrors in a scanning direction. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207232 | MULTIPOINT CONFERENCE SYSTEM, MULTIPOINT CONFERENCE METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A multipoint videoconference server is made to swiftly respond to a video switching request from a terminal and a degree of computational complexity is made lower. A server | 2009-08-20 |
20090207233 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEOCONFERENCE CONFIGURATION - Systems and methods for providing camera configuration for points in a multi-point videoconference system are provided. First configuration information is determined for a first point of a multi-point videoconferencing system. Second configuration information is determined for a second point of the multi-point videoconferencing system. One or more first cameras at the first point or one or more second cameras at the second point of the multi-point videoconferencing system are reconfigured based on the first configuration information or the second configuration information. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207234 | Telepresence system for 360 degree video conferencing - Systems and methods for image processing, comprising receiving a video frame, coding a first portion of the video frame at a different quality than a second portion of the video frame, based on an optical property, and displaying the video frame. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207235 | Method for Determining Scattered Disparity Fields in Stereo Vision - In a system for stereo vision including two cameras shooting the same scene, a method is performed for determining scattered disparity fields when the epipolar geometry is known, which includes the steps of: capturing, through the two cameras, first and second images of the scene from two different positions; selecting at least one pixel in the first image, the pixel being associated with a point of the scene and the second image containing a point also associated with the above point of the scene; and computing the displacement from the pixel to the point in the second image minimising a cost function, such cost function including a term which depends on the difference between the first and the second image and a term which depends on the distance of the above point in the second image from a epipolar straight line, and a following check whether it belongs to an allowability area around a subset to the epipolar straight line in which the presence of the point is allowed, in order to take into account errors or uncertainties in calibrating the cameras. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207236 | FOCUS ACTUATED VERGENCE - A system is disclosed for the vergence of images from a plurality of cameras, the system having: an first camera; a second camera disposed at some distance from that first camera; a focus adjustment whereby the focus of the first camera can be adjusted by a user; the focus adjustment being configured with a range finder whereby the distance from the first camera to a target is ascertained; a look up chart wherein divergence distance of images generated from the first camera from images of the second camera are provided for pre-calculated ranges; a processor whereby said images generated by the first camera are superimposed on the images generated by the second camera by the divergence distance determined from the lookup. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207237 | Method and Device for Autosterioscopic Display With Adaptation of the Optimal Viewing Distance - A method for autostereoscopic viewing including encoding a matrix image on a display, the matrix image integrating a set of P view points of the same scene. The matrix image consists of image pixels, and P image pixels forming a 3D image including P view points. The display includes a matrix of screen pixels, the screen pixels including P view points forming a 3D screen pixel. The method further includes receiving and optically processing a matrix image, emitted by the display, with a converting display, remotely generating a three-dimensional image. The device and method further include adapting the number of screen pixels to encode a 3D image pixel, based on a desired optimal viewing distance (D | 2009-08-20 |
20090207238 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING VIEW OF STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE FOR STEREO SYNCHRONIZATION - Provided is a method and apparatus for determining stereo views of a stereoscopic image. The method includes: selecting a pair of first and second images from a pair of frames of the stereoscopic image, the pair of frames including a base view image and an additional view image. The method further includes determining which of the first image and the second image is the base view image and which of the first image and the second image is the additional view image based on a parallax between the pair of first and second images. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207239 | ARTIFICIAL EYE SYSTEM WITH DRIVE MEANS INSIDE THE EYE-BALL - An artificial eye system, comprising at least one eye unit ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090207240 | ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE AND ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM USING SAME - The objective of the invention is to provide a type of electronic endoscope that can reduce the noise in the image pickup signal sent from the electronic endoscope, and a type of endoscope system using said electronic endoscope. Electronic endoscope | 2009-08-20 |
20090207241 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL-IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, THREE DIMENSIONAL-IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND PROGRAM - In a three-dimensional image forming device for forming a phantom three-dimensional image in accordance with an image of an inner face of a tubular structure to be observed, luminance information of pixels corresponding to a prescribed range of each frame image of the tubular structure is obtained under prescribed lighting conditions when an imaging device with an optical axis extending to an axial direction of the tubular structure moves, a relative distances in a depth direction between points and an objective lens is calculated in accordance with the luminance information, pixels corresponding to the prescribed range of each frame image in the inner face of the tubular structure is arrayed in reflection of the relative distance, and the arrayed pixels are combined for a plurality of the frame images to form a three-dimensional image of the inner face of the tubular structure. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207242 | SIGNAL PROCESSING SYSTEM - A user system includes a log read-out section for reading out setting state log data, a log data sending section for sending the setting state log data, and a restoration operation activating section for receiving a restore command and performs a restoration operation. A remote operation system includes a log data receiving section for receiving the setting state log data, a log data analyzing section for analyzing the setting state log data, a communication requesting section for requesting sending of the setting state log data, and a restore command sending section for sending a restore command. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207243 | Device for examining workpieces - The invention relates to a device for examining workpieces ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090207244 | Method and apparatus for detecting and inspecting through-penetrating defects in foils and films - The present invention is a method and apparatus for optical detection and size evaluation of through-penetrating defects such as pinholes in moving foil or film. The invention comprises the installation of at least one image capture device at a first given distance over the moving foil surface, placement of at least one elongated light source comprising an infinite number of point-sources that are not in phase, and are emitting light independently from one another under the foil, periodic automatic computer-controlled image capture of the foil surface with image capture devices, automatic transmission of the image captured by each device to a control computer, and processing of the transmitted image data to detect of defect light spot, followed by determination of generalized index of its initial image. This generalize index value is equal to the brightness averaged within the spot multiplied by the area of the spot. The invention further includes reporting the presence of a through-penetrating defect when the generalized index value exceeds a preset threshold. characteristics of the defect spots. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207245 | DISK INSPECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A disk inspection apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a disk holding device which holds a disk; an illumination device which radiates an inspection area portion having a predetermined shape on a disk surface including an edge of the disk held by the disk holding device, with illumination light having an illumination light pattern which forms a range of delivery of illumination light having approximately the same shape as that of the inspection area; and an imaging device which includes, in the field of view, the inspection area portion on the disk surface including the edge illuminated by the illumination device, and takes an image of light reflected from the inspection area portion. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207246 | Interactive image acquisition device - The present invention tracks a specified target object and provides an image in real time in a way that gives a viewer a sense of reality. The present invention connects, in order to produce a spherical image Q | 2009-08-20 |
20090207247 | Hybrid remote digital recording and acquisition system - A surveillance system includes an event module that receives an event detection signal that indicates an event external to the surveillance system. The system also includes a power control module that selectively operates a data recording device at least partially concurrent with the event based on the event detection signal. The system also includes a selection module that selects a portion of data recorded by the data recording device based on content of the data. A data transmission module transmits the portion over a remote communication link. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207248 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION STORAGE OF IMAGES - An image-creation method includes capturing an image as digital data, locating an area of interest of the captured image, extracting, from the digital data, at least some data corresponding to the located area of interest, digitally magnifying the extracted at least some data to yield digitally magnified data, and combining the digitally magnified data with at least some of the digital data of the captured image to yield combined data. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207249 | CLIMATE CONTROLLED SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM - A climate controlled surveillance system that includes a housing for enclosing a surveillance device. The system includes a Peltier device and a liquid coolant. The Peltier device extracts heat from the housing, which is then transferred to the liquid coolant by conduction and/or convection. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207250 | AERIAL CAMERA SYSTEM - An aerial camera system including a plurality of main reels, a camera interface/safety reel and a stabilized camera head. The camera head is supported from main cables from the main reels with a safety reel cable providing power, data and video communication between the camera head and a main computer system. Each of the main reels, the camera interface/safety reel and the camera head are in communication with the main computer system, which controls the feeding and reeling in of the main cables. Further, the computer system controls the feeding and reeling in of the safety reel cable, which typically only follows the camera head as it moves in three-dimensional space, but may in emergency mode support the weight of the camera head and be used to slowly pull the camera head up and out of the way so that it does not interfere with any activity below the flight area. The aerial camera system may also include a level wind assembly that keeps the cables wound on the drum of the main reels and/or the safety reel in a controlled and consistent manner. Furthermore, the camera head of the aerial camera system may use a rotating gimbal assembly with computer controlled leveling motors for keeping the camera head level as the gimbal assembly moves. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207251 | PERSONAL AUTHENTICATION METHOD AND PERSONAL AUTHENTICATION DEVICE - A personal authentication method and device capable of creating iris information enabling personal authentication even if the iris image shows light reflection. The personal authentication device comprises an imaging section for imaging an eye of the user, an iris code generating section for generating an iris code from the captured image, a determining section for comparing the iris code with a registered iris code and determining whether or not the iris code agrees with the registered code, a control section for giving an instruction to retry imaging when there is no match, a guiding section for guiding the user so that the position where there is light reflection in the iris in retry-imaging changes, an average calculation image creating section for extracting an iris image from images, if the iris code generated from the image captured by retry-imaging disagrees with the registered iris code and creating an average calculation image produced by averaging the pixel values of the iris image, and an iris code generation instruction section for instructing the iris code generating section to generate an iris code from the average calculation image. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207252 | PERSONAL MULTI-INFORMATION RECORDER - A method for recording information on a device worn on a person includes capturing video information, capturing audio information and receiving a signal from a remote unit. The method further includes determining from the signal that the remote unit is a minimum distance from the device and in response commencing recording of the video information and the audio information in storage. In one alternative, the video information is captured via a video camera and audio information is captured via a microphone. In another alternative, the remote unit is installed in the person's vehicle. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207253 | AUTOMATIC PHASE ADJUSTING APPARATUS - A digital imaging signal obtained by converting an image data obtained by an imaging element into a digital value for each pixel is inputted to an automatic phase adjusting apparatus, and the automatic phase adjusting apparatus adjusts phases of pulses to be used for imaging based on the inputted digital imaging signal. The automatic phase adjusting apparatus is provided with a brightness level detector for calculating a brightness level of the digital imaging signal for a plurality of pixels in a first pixel region, a variability calculator for calculating a variability value which indicates signal variability of the digital imaging signal for each pixel for a plurality of pixels in a second pixel region, and a timing adjuster for adjusting the phases of the pulses in accordance with calculation results obtained by the brightness level detector and the variability calculator. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207254 | SYSTEM TO MANAGE DIGITAL CAMERA IMAGES - A system for managing files stored on a digital camera includes detection of the digital camera, automatic reception of thumbnail image files stored in the camera, and storage of the received thumbnail image files in a memory. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207255 | Camera Sensing Device For Capturing And Manipulating Images - A camera sensing device is provided for capturing and manipulating images. The device includes an image sensor configured to capture an image. A card reader includes a first roller assembly and is configured to read a card fed into the first roller assembly. The card has encoded thereon instructions for the manipulation of the captured image. A printed circuit board (PCB) bears a processor configured to manipulate the captured image in accordance with the encoded instructions. A print head unit includes a second roller assembly and includes an ink ejection printhead configured to print the manipulated image on print media fed by the second roller assembly. A media and ink supply is configured to supply ink and print media to the printhead unit. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207256 | IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER- READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM RECORDED THEREON - The present invention aims at obtaining a high-quality video signal by reducing tone jumps. A second grayscale conversion characteristic is calculated from a video signal to which a first grayscale conversion process has been applied using a first grayscale conversion characteristic used to convert an M-bit video signal into an N-bit video signal, where M and N are integers and M is larger than N. The first grayscale conversion characteristic is corrected by using the second grayscale conversion characteristic. The first grayscale conversion process is applied to the video signal by using the corrected first grayscale conversion characteristic. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207257 | CAMERA EGOMOTION ESTIMATION FROM AN INFRA-RED IMAGE SEQUENCE FOR NIGHT VISION - A method for estimating egomotion of a camera mounted on a vehicle that uses infra-red images is disclosed, comprising the steps of (a) receiving a pair of frames from a plurality of frames from the camera, the first frame being assigned to a previous frame and an anchor frame and the second frame being assigned to a current frame; (b) extracting features from the previous frame and the current frame; (c) finding correspondances between extracted features from the previous frame and the current frame; and (d) estimating the relative pose of the camera by minimizing reprojection errors from the correspondences to the anchor frame. The method can further comprise the steps of (e) assigning the current frame as the anchor frame when a predetermined amount of image motion between the current frame and the anchor frame is observed; (f) assigning the current frame to the previous frame and assigning a new frame from the plurality of frames to the current frame; and (g) repeating steps (b)-(f) until there are no more frames from the plurality of frames to process. Step (c) is based on an estimation of the focus of expansion between the previous frame and the current frame. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207258 | Digital photographing apparatus, method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method - Provided are a digital photographing apparatus by which a clear image may be obtained despite shaking of the digital photographing apparatus during a photographing operation, a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method. The digital photographing apparatus includes a data obtaining unit for obtaining first data of a first image captured using a long time exposure and obtaining second data of a second image captured using a short time exposure; a motion vector extraction unit for extracting a motion vector between a position of a subject in the first image and the position of the subject in the second image; a blurring determination unit for determining whether blurring exists in the first image; a subject location determination unit for determining whether the position of the subject in the first image is identical to the position of the subject in the second image; and a data combination unit for creating data having luminance data of the second data and having composite color data obtained by combining color data of the first and second data, as ultimate data. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207259 | Image Processing Apparatus, Image Processing Method, and Computer Program - An apparatus and a method for outputting high-quality images in which both jerkiness and blur are reduced are provided. At generation of moving images to be output at a certain frame rate, movement velocities of a subject according to the frame rate of the output images are calculated in units of partial areas in each frame image constituting the moving images, optimal shutter speeds to reduce degradation of the output images are obtained as optimal imaging shutter speeds corresponding to the movement velocities in units of partial areas, images corresponding to the obtained optimal shutter speeds are generated in units of partial areas, and frame images generated by combining the generated partial area images are output. According to this configuration, high-quality images in which both jerkiness and blur are reduced can be output. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207260 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP METHOD - An image pickup apparatus includes: a flash photography unit that performs image pickup of one of the plurality of images by causing a flash device to emit light during the image pickup in accordance with an exposure; a region setting unit for setting a plurality of motion vector measurement regions for which a motion vector is measured; a motion vector reliability calculation unit for calculating a reliability of respective motion vectors; and a main region detection unit for detecting a main region from the image photographed by the flash photography unit. A motion vector integration processing unit includes a contribution calculation unit for calculating a contribution of the respective motion vectors from a positional relationship between the respective motion vector measurement regions and the main region, and integrates the motion vectors of the plurality of motion vector measurement regions in accordance with the reliability and the contribution. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207261 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device including an interface configured to receive a first digital picture and a second digital picture generated by a digital camera, a determining circuit configured to detect a movement of the digital camera in a direction perpendicular to the image plane of the first digital picture based on differences between the first digital picture and the second digital picture, a generating circuit configured to generate control information depending on the detected movement, and a processing circuit configured to carry out an operation according to the control information. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207262 | CONTROLLER, CONTROL SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD - A controller has a connection interface used to connect an external device, changes an operational profile of an operation unit to that according to the external device connected by the connection interface, and controls a host apparatus based on an input operation from the user at the operation unit, the operational profile of which is changed. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207263 | IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE, IMAGE GENERATING DEVICE, MOVING PICTURE GENERATING METHOD AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - An image capturing unit outputs an image data signal. A first moving picture data generating unit generates first moving picture data based on the image signal from the image capturing unit. A trigger signal generating unit causes a trigger signal to be generated, every time a predetermined trigger condition is met, while the first moving picture data generating unit is in process of generating the first moving picture data. A second moving picture data generating unit causes, every time the trigger signal is generated, generation of moving picture data corresponding to an image signal of the predetermined period of time based on the point of time the trigger signal has been generated. A recording unit effects recording of the first moving picture data and the second moving picture data. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207264 | Image processing device, imaging device, and medium storing image processing program - An image processing device including a storing unit storing the position of a focus detecting pixel of an image-capturing sensor containing plural pixels having spectroscopic characterizations corresponding to respective plural color components with the focus detecting pixel, a pixel interpolating unit generating an interpolation pixel value of the focus detecting pixel by using pixel values of pixels neighboring to the focus detecting pixel, neighborhood-pixel estimating unit calculating an estimation pixel value corresponding to a pixel value when the pixels neighboring to the focus detecting pixel have the same spectroscopic characterization as the focus detecting pixel, a high-frequency component calculating unit calculating a high frequency component of the image by using a pixel value of the focus detecting pixel and the estimation pixel value, and a high frequency component adding unit adding the interpolation pixel value with the high frequency component to calculate a pixel value of the focus detecting pixel. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207265 | Method and Apparatus for Detecting Camera Sensor Intensity Saturation - A method for detecting intensity saturation of a light sensor includes monitoring an electrical signal from a light sensor for detecting an intensity saturation condition of at least one pixel of the light sensor, converting the electrical signal to a digital signal, imposing a reserved bit combination on the digital signal indicating the intensity saturation condition of the pixel, and transmitting a control signal in response to the digital signal to compensate for the intensity saturation condition of the pixel. Alternatively stated, the method includes monitoring pixel data from an output of a light sensor to determine a number of pixels at saturation and a number of pixels near saturation, comparing the number of pixels at saturation to a predetermined first threshold number, comparing the number of pixels near saturation to a predetermined second threshold number, reprogramming the light sensor to adapt to more brightness if the number of pixels at saturation is above the first threshold number, and reprogramming the light sensor to adapt to less brightness if the number of pixels near saturation is below the second threshold number. An apparatus for detecting intensity saturation of a light sensor includes a saturation detector for detecting and measuring an intensity saturation condition of at least one pixel of a light sensor, the intensity saturation condition of the pixel being at saturation upon receiving light with an intensity above a predetermined level, the saturation detector emitting a digital signal with a reserved bit combination indicating the intensity saturation condition of the pixel, and a processor receiving and processing the digital signal from the saturation detector and transmitting a control signal in response to the digital signal to compensate for the intensity saturation condition of the pixel. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207266 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, CAMERA DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Disclosed herein is an image processing device including: a face detector configured to detect a face from an image given on a basis of detection information; and a processing unit configured to set the detection information of the face detector, receive at least an input image before distortion correction of the image before the distortion correction and an image after the distortion correction, divide an entire image region of the input image, and supply each of the divided images to the face detector on a time-division basis, wherein the face detector detects faces from a face of a maximum size to a face of a minimum size in the entire image in a detectable range. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207267 | METHOD FOR CALCULATING SHIFT AMOUNT OF IMAGE PICKUP ELEMENT AND IMAGE PICKUP ELEMENT - A method for calculating a shift amount of a microlens from a position of a light receiving element arranged in a pixel of an image pickup element is provided. The microlens collects incident light from an image pickup lens. The method comprises: acquiring an incident angle characteristic value indicating a relation between an arranged position of the pixel and an incident angle of the incident light to the pixel; calculating a sampled shift amount of the microlens from the position of the light receiving element corresponding the incident angle characteristic value based on light collection efficiency of the incident light; approximating the sampled shift amount by a second or higher order function to calculate a shift amount characteristic function indicating a relation between the arranged position and the shift amount; and calculating the shift amount of the pixel using the shift amount characteristic function. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207268 | IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGING DEVICE - An image signal processing device for correcting color difference signals includes a first correcting unit configured to set a correction amount for input color difference signals to “0” and generating output color difference signals when a colorless area containing the original point of a color difference space in which the two color difference signals are set as two intersecting axes, a first boundary line through which the inside and outside of the colorless area are partitioned, a suppression area which is nearer to the original point than the first boundary line and defined by a color difference suppression width, and a second boundary line through which the interior of suppression area and the inside area of the suppression area are partitioned are set in the color difference space and the values of the color difference signals are at the outside of the colorless area. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207269 | Image processing device, camera device, communication system, image processing method, and program - An image processing device includes a face detector configured to detect a face based on a taken image, and an output processor configured to have a function to execute privacy-mask processing for privacy protection for an image of a face detected by the face detector or an image of a background of the face. The output processor includes a function to separately output an image of a face detected by the face detector and an image of a background of the face which are each subjected to or not subjected to the privacy-mask processing. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207270 | IMAGE ACQUISITION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AUTHENTICATING IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE IN THE IMAGE ACQUISITION SYSTEM - An image acquisition system includes an image acquisition device and a commanding device configured as a separate member from the image acquisition device to transmit an image acquisition execution command to the image acquisition device and thereby to cause the image acquisition device to perform an image acquisition operation. The commanding device includes an authentication information transmission unit configured to transmit authentication information to the image acquisition device to cause the image acquisition device to authenticate the commanding device. The image acquisition device includes an authentication information receiving unit configured to receive the authentication information transmitted from the commanding device, an authentication information recognition unit configured to recognize the authentication information received by the authentication information receiving unit, and a function limiting unit configured to limit a predetermined function of the image acquisition device based on the authentication information recognized by the authentication information recognition unit. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207271 | Image Processor Correcting Color Misregistration, Image Processing Program, Image Processing Method, and Electronic Camera - An image processor captures image data which include at least correction object color components and reference color components and has one kind of color component per pixel. The image processor acquires or detects information about positional shifts of the correction object color components and corrects positional shifts of correction object color components. In this correction, image structures lost from correction object color components are compensated for by image structures extracted from reference color components. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207272 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH TWO IMAGE SENSORS - An electronic device for producing an image of an object is disclosed. The electronic device may include a black-and-white camera having a first sensor area configured to receive luma data pertaining to the object. The first sensor area may correspond to a first pixel array, the luma data associated with the first pixel array. The electronic device may also include a color camera having a second sensor area configured to receive chroma data pertaining to the object. The second sensor area may correspond to a second pixel array. The chroma data may be associated with the second pixel array. The electronic device may also include first logic configured to correlate pixels in the first pixel array with locations on the second sensor area. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207273 | IMAGING APPARATUS, WAVEFORM SIGNAL DISPLAY METHOD, STORAGE MEDIUM, AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - An imaging apparatus with an automatic adjustment function, such as a white balance adjustment function, enables a result of such adjustment to be checked easily using a vector display. A waveform generation unit | 2009-08-20 |
20090207274 | Apparatus and method for adjusting white balance in a digital imaging device - A method and apparatus for adjusting a white balance in a digital imaging device. The method including the steps of: analyzing a histogram of an image to which a white balance algorithm is to be applied; classifying the image, to which the white balance algorithm is to be applied, according to color distribution determination criteria; and the white balance algorithm is applied to the image in a customized manner based on results of the classification based on color distributions. The apparatus includes an image sensor unit for photographing a subject and for creating an original image; and an image processing unit for finding an achromatic color region through estimation of a color temperature of the original image, for extracting a white point of the achromatic color region, and for adjusting a white balance of the original image. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207275 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD THEREFOR - An image sensing apparatus comprising: a CCD, optical system for forming an image on the CCD; A/D converter for converting an image signal outputted by the CCD to a digital signal; color interpolator for performing color interpolation on the digital signal converted by the A/D converter and generating image data on R, G and B color planes; color space converter for converting RGB color space to YUV colorimetric system; and median filter for reducing pseudo color components, generated by the color interpolator, by controlling color difference signals U and V. By cutting high frequency components of the signal, filtered by the median filter, then thinning out YUV signals and performing JPEG compression, pseudo color components generated by color interpolation can be reduced. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207276 | Image pick up device - An image pickup device includes an optical system; an image sensor; an AGC circuit; an image processing unit configured to perform at least an MTF correction process; and a control unit configured to control the image processing unit so as not to perform the MTF correction process in the event that the control unit determines that illuminance is low based on information which directly or indirectly indicates the illuminance. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207277 | VIDEO CAMERA AND TIME-LAG CORRECTION METHOD - According to one embodiment, a video camera comprises an imaging module configured to pick up a moving image of a subject and output a video signal, a microphone configured to pick up sound and output an audio signal, and a synchronization module configured to correct a time lag between the audio signal and video signal according to a distance of the subject. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207278 | IMAGE PICK-UP APPARATUS, IMAGE DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - In a moving image recording process, a shooting operation using a short exposure time appropriate for shooting a still image, and a shooting operation using a long exposure time appropriate for shooting a moving image are performed repeatedly in turn. Plural pieces of frame image data “B” shot by the shooting operations using a long exposure time are successively recorded as moving image data. When a shutter button is pressed in the moving image recording process, frame image data which is shot using a short exposure time just before the shutter button is pressed is recorded as a still image. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207279 | IMAGING DEVICE - Provided is an imaging device capable of accurately and rapidly selecting a main image from a plurality of continuously captured images and simplifying handling of image files recorded on a memory card. With one operation, it is possible to capture a plurality of continuous images at a predetermined time interval. A main image is selected from the captured images and the image data on the main image and the image data on sub images other than the main image are recorded as one image file on a recording medium ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090207280 | Electronic still camera and method of image acquisition of electronic still camera - A photography mode selecting section allows a photographer to select continuous photographing. An imaging section captures an image of a subject. An area setting section detects a photographic subject based on a photographic image captured by the imaging section for every photographing in the continuous photographing, and sets the size and position of a photographic subject area including the detected photographic subject, when the continuous photographing is selected by the photography mode selecting section. A memory section stores an image inside the photographic subject area as a photographic subject image. Consequently, in continuous photographing of a moving body, the size of the photographic subject area for every photographing in the continuous photographing can be changed according to change in the size of the image of the moving body with respect to an image screen of the imaging section, thereby preventing wasteful usage of a memory area of the memory section. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207281 | Image capturing apparatus, control method therefor, and program - An image capturing apparatus includes a shutter-operation accepting unit that accepts a shutter operation; an image capturing unit that captures an image of an object and generates a captured image; a brightness-information extracting unit that extracts, from the captured image, brightness information indicating brightness of the whole captured image; a luminance-value-distribution-information extracting unit that extracts, from the captured image, luminance-value-distribution information indicating a distribution of luminance values in the captured image; a scene determining unit that determines a scene of the object included in the captured image based on the extracted brightness information and luminance-value-distribution information; and a control unit that performs control to record captured images using at least two different image capturing/recording parameters if, when the shutter operation has been accepted, the scene of the object included in the captured image is determined to be a predetermined scene. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207282 | IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE, METHOD FOR IMAGE CAPTURING, AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - A control unit controls an image capture unit to perform a plurality of image captures of an object and acquires a plurality of mutually different image data based on a positional change of an image capturing device. Then, the control unit extracts a specified object image common to each of the acquired plurality of image data. The control unit synthesizes the acquired plurality of image data using the extracted specified object image as a reference, and thereby creates synthesized image data. The synthesized image data is an image equivalent to a captured image having a shallow depth of field such that only the specified object image is clearly photographed and the other portions are blurred. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207283 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus includes a decoding processor including a decoder configured to decode encoded data of image data of one frame having a plurality of pixels encoded by a variable length coding method and generating decoded data, and a data transfer unit configured to select decoded data in a target partial region in which a predetermined image processing is to be performed as partial image data out of the decoded data inputted from the decoder and transfer the selected data; and an image processor configured to perform the given image processing on the partial image data selected in the data transfer unit and store the image-processed partial image data in a storage device. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207284 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ANTI-BLOOMING TIMING TO REDUCE EFFECTS OF DARK CURRENT - An electronic imager includes a plurality of pixels having photosensors for accumulating charge corresponding to individual pixel values of a sensed image. Each of the pixels includes an anti-blooming function which allows charge in excess of a predetermined amount to be drained from the photosensor thus reducing the charge from the pixel that migrates to adjacent pixels. The imager also includes circuitry which controls the anti-blooming function in response to image intensity to reduce dark current in the imager caused by the anti-blooming function. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207285 | IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER- READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM RECORDED THEREON - The present invention aims at obtaining a high-quality video signal by reducing tone jumps. A second grayscale conversion characteristic is calculated from a video signal to which a first grayscale conversion process has been applied using a first grayscale conversion characteristic used to convert an M-bit video signal into an N-bit video signal, where M and N are integers and M is larger than N. The second grayscale conversion characteristic is corrected by using the first grayscale conversion characteristic. A second grayscale conversion process is applied to the video signal by using the corrected second grayscale conversion characteristic. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207286 | Colored photosensitive composition, and color filter array and solid image pickup device using the same - An object of the present invention is to provide a colored photosensitive composition capable of forming a color filter array having improved spectral characteristics. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207287 | Colored photosensitive composition, and color filter array and solid image pickup device using the same - An object of the present invention is to provide a colored photosensitive composition capable of forming a color filter array having improved spectral characteristics. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207288 | SIGNAL READOUT METHOD OF SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD - The present invention provides a signal readout method of solid-state imaging device which can simultaneously readouts the signals having different properties that can generate multiple images obtained by capturing the same subject under different capturing conditions from one solid-state imaging device. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207289 | AMPLIFYING SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME - By providing dummy pixels separately from effective pixels, the total number of pixel rows is equalized with the number of horizontal sync signals included in one frame interval (which is called an “HD number”). A period during which a reset signal for an electronic shuttering operation is being supplied to an arbitrary pixel row overlaps with a period during which another pixel row is selected to perform a readout operation thereon. Thus, it is possible to suppress a variation in reset potential among effective pixels. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207290 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having a plurality of pixels, each pixel containing an amplification section for outputting onto an output signal line, and a reset section for resetting an accumulation section; a noise suppressing section with using a first signal being an output from the pixel at the time of resetting for suppressing noise components contained in a second signal corresponding to the signal electric charges; and a control section for, of the outputs onto the output signal line of a first pixel being subject of the noise suppressing operation, respectively limiting the first signal and the second signal to a first electric potential and to a second electric potential with using an output resulting from reset operation onto the output signal line from a second pixel different from the first pixel and connected to the same one output signal line as the first pixel. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207291 | Solid-state imaging device, camera, and electronic device - Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device which includes an imaging region including pixels arranged two-dimensionally, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion element and a plurality of pixel transistors for reading out signals outputted from the photoelectric conversion element, and wirings formed on stacked layers for driving each of the pixels. A shading part between the pixels is formed by combining first and second wirings selected from the wirings. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207292 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF - A solid state imaging apparatus of less fixed pattern noises and less shading comprises an imaging area wherein a plurality of pixel circuits are arranged in two dimensionally, and each of the pixel circuits includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements each for generating an electric charge by a photoelectric conversion and for accumulating the electric charge, a single floating diffusion portion for accumulating the charge, a plurality of transfer switches for transferring the electric charges respectively from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements to the single floating diffusion portion and an amplifying transistor for amplifying a voltage corresponding to the electric charge accumulated by the floating diffusion portion, wherein the plurality of transfer switches transfers the electric charges from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements sequentially to the floating diffusion portion while maintaining the amplifying transistors at the activation state. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207293 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS, IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS CONTROL METHOD, AND IMAGING SYSTEM - An image sensing apparatus comprises: an output unit which includes an output line group, a plurality of difference circuits, a first dummy line, and a second dummy line, and wherein the output line group is interposed between the first dummy line and the second dummy line, a readout unit includes a plurality of memory circuits, each of the plurality of memory circuits includes a first holding capacitance and a second holding capacitance, a gain determined by a ratio of a capacitance value of the first holding capacitance and a capacitance value of a first output line is applied to the first signal output to the first output line, and a gain determined by a ratio of a capacitance value of the second holding capacitance and a capacitance value of a second output line is applied to the second signal output to the second output line. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207294 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING SENSITIVITY IN VERTICAL COLOR CMOS IMAGE SENSORS - The invention describes in detail the structure of a CMOS image sensor pixel that senses color of impinging light without having absorbing filters placed on its surface. The color sensing is accomplished by having a vertical stack of three-charge detection nodes placed in the silicon bulk, which collect electrons depending on the depth of their generation. The small charge detection node capacitance and thus high sensitivity with low noise is achieved by using fully depleted, potential well forming, buried layers instead of undepleted junction electrodes. Two embodiments of contacting the buried layers without substantially increasing the node capacitances are presented. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207295 | IMAGING DEVICE AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF - An imaging device includes a vertical transfer unit to sequentially transfer the charges generated by photoelectric conversion elements in a vertical direction with the transfer registers, during a vertical transfer period, a horizontal transfer unit to horizontally transfer the charges transferred by the vertical transfer unit, during a horizontal transfer period, and a controller to control the vertical transfer unit and the horizontal transfer unit. The controller controls the vertical transfer unit such that the number of transfer registers used to store the charges during the horizontal transfer period is larger than the number of transfer registers used to store the charges during the vertical transfer period. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207296 | Image display device image display method, storage medium storing computer program, and image capture device - There are disclosed: an image display device including a storage unit in which a plurality of items of image information are stored; a display unit that performs sequential display, in a predetermined order, of a plurality images represented by the plurality of items of image information; a reception unit that receives a stop instruction for stopping the sequential display; and a controller that controls the display unit such that, when the stop instruction is received by the reception unit during performance of the sequential display, the display unit performs a list display of images within a predetermined range using as a reference an image that is being displayed at a time when the stop instruction is received. | 2009-08-20 |