Did You Know...
...that the x-ray was discovered purely by accident? When German physicist Wilhelm Konrad von Roentgen was experimenting with cathode rays in 1895, he put an activated Crookes tube in a book and went out to lunch. When he returned, he discovered that a key that had also been placed in the book showed up as an image on the developed film!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8139143 | Solid-state imaging apparatus and camera system A solid-state imaging apparatus has a plurality of read out circuits (128) reading out pixel output signals from pixels in a pixel region, a common signal output line (123) connected to the plurality of read out circuits via switch units, a first load ... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8098322 | Image pickup device and image pickup apparatus An image pickup device includes a group of photoelectric conversion cells that output distance-measurement signals for phase difference detection. Each photoelectric conversion cell includes a photodetector and a pupil restricting unit. The photodetector generates t... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8077251 | Photometry apparatus and camera This invention allows measuring the spectral state of an object more accurately even at low luminance, and implementing high-precision focus detection. A photometry apparatus includes a diffusing optical member which is inserted in the optical path of a photographin... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8045047 | Method and apparatus for digital image processing of an image having different scaling rates A method, module, device, and computer program product for digital imaging. Providing an image within an image sensor, selecting at least one first region within image for scaling with a first scaling rate, selecting at least one second region within the image for s... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8031259 | Solid-state imaging device and electronic camera A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels disposed in a two-dimensional array, a scanning circuit that selects a specific pixel among the pixels by selecting a pixel row and a pixel column and a signal output circuit that outputs a signal from the ... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8031258 | Providing multiple video signals from single sensor A method for using a capture device to capture at least two video signals corresponding to a scene, includes: providing a two-dimensional image sensor having a plurality of pixels; reading a first group of pixels from the image sensor at a first frame rate to produc... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8018524 | Image-pickup method and apparatus having contrast and phase difference forcusing methods wherein a contrast evaluation area is changed based on phase difference detection areas The image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup element including first type pixels photoelectrically converting an object image formed by a light flux from an optical system and second type pixels photoelectrically converting plural images formed by plural ligh... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8009223 | Image sensor, focus detection device, focus adjustment device and image-capturing apparatus An image sensor includes: a plurality of imaging pixel rows, which include a plurality of types of imaging pixels with varying spectral sensitivity characteristic that are arrayed two-dimensionally based upon a first spectral sensitivity characteristics array patter... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7990461 | Focus detection device Both of a high speed AF using contrast control and a high precision AF using a color temperature sensor are achieved. A focus detection device has: a first sensor which outputs a signal for a focus detection by detecting a phase difference; and a second sensor havin... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7978255 | Solid-state image sensor and image-capturing device A solid-state image sensor includes: a plurality of image-capturing pixels, each equipped with a first micro-lens used to condense light; and a plurality of focus detection pixels engaged in focus detection, each equipped with a second micro-lens used to condense li... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7889271 | AE/AF sensor device with photometry conversion element formed using plural semiconductor regions and automatic focusing photoelectric conversion element formed using plural semiconductor regions A solid state image pickup device is provided which can reduce crosstalks between range finding photoelectric conversion elements (AF sensor) and photometry photoelectric conversion elements (AE sensor). The solid state image pickup device has an n-type epitaxial se... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7812881 | Imaging device, camera and image processing method An imaging device includes an image sensor that includes imaging pixels that are disposed in a two-dimensional array and focus detection pixels disposed in part of the array of the imaging pixels, a coefficient setting circuit that sets a conversion coefficient to b... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7768572 | Iris recognition camera for an iris recognition system and a method of operation for an iris recognition camera An iris recognition camera is provided which includes a driving barrel configured to support a lens, a moving unit configured to reciprocatingly move the driving barrel to perform both focus and zoom operations, and a position sensor configured to detect a position ... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7701502 | Image sensor, focal point detection device and camera An image sensor includes: three or more photoelectric conversion devices; and a storage control circuit that controls storage operations at the photoelectric conversion devices, and the storage control circuit commonly controls the storage operations at two or more ... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7692713 | Solid state image pickup device and camera utilizing a maximum value signal corresponding to a predetermined carrier-accumulation end level A solid-state image pickup device wherein, in order to obtain an output of large amplitude from a low-contrast object without using a bottom detecting circuit to thereby increase a capturing rate, an accumulation end is determined when a maximum value signal in a ph... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7692714 | Imaging system, imaging apparatus, and method for controlling the imaging apparatus An overall in-focus position is calculated based on an in-focus position of each clip image, an image size of each clip image, and an image size of each output image. Focus control for an imaging apparatus is performed based on the calculated overall in-focus positi... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7576796 | Auto focus system In the auto focus system, focus evaluation values indicating a degree of sharpness of images are sought from a plurality of image pickup devices placed at positions of different light path lengths, a travel distance converging to zero as a focus of a picture-taking ... | 08/18/2009 |
| 7570299 | Automatic focusing system An automatic focusing system comprising: a plurality of image pickup surfaces of an AF image pickup device for taking images of a subject for performing automatic focusing of a picture taking lens, the image pickup surfaces being p... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7471329 | Digital camera that performs autofocusing according to chromatic and achromatic sensing elements An image sensing unit with an improved structure and a digital camera adopting the same are provided. The image sensing unit for a digital camera includes a light-receiving surface having a plurality of pixel sensors arranged regularly on a two-dimensional region of... | 12/30/2008 |
| 7440690 | Focus detection apparatus and control method thereof An output from an auto focus sensor is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converting section, and an output from the A/C converting section is stored in a memory section. Further, a second AF arithmetic section is used to concurrently execute a plurality of f... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7421195 | Apparatus for acquiring focussing information and method of acquiring focusing information A storage unit is configured to store beforehand a table that shows a relation between spread parameters and command values supplied to a control unit to acquire a focused image of an object, and information that designates a command value corresponding to an inflec... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7417683 | Auto-focusing optical apparatus with focus detection area setting capability An optical apparatus is disclosed, with which focus detection areas of different size and/or position can be stored. The optical apparatus includes a first operating member which is operated changing at least one of a size and a position of a focus detection area, a... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7403230 | Image-taking apparatus An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which achieves focusing in a reduce time with higher accuracy of an in-focus position search in a TV-AF method to minimize occurrence of unnatural focus changes. The image-taking apparatus includes an image-taking element, a fi... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7391463 | Image sensing apparatus having distance measuring unit and control method thereof An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensing element to form an object image which enters via a photographing optical system, a distance measuring unit to measure distances to at least first and second points within a photographing frame using an optical pat... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7365779 | Image processing apparatus for selectively storing specific regions of an image The invention provides an image processing apparatus that can reduce the memory capacity of a memory forming part of the image processing apparatus and can correct the optical axis misalignment of a video camera in a simple manner. The image processing apparatus ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7358999 | Focus sensing apparatus, focus sensing method using phase-differential detection and computer-readable storage medium therefor An apparatus comprising: an image sensing device having a plurality of pixels for receiving light from an object upon separating the light into respective ones of different color components; an optical guidance device for accepting light rays in different directions... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7355647 | Image pickup apparatus An image pickup apparatus including a first photoelectric conversion circuit that has a photoelectric conversion area and is used for performing focus adjustment; a second photoelectric conversion circuit that has a photoelectric conversion area and is used for perf... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7355760 | Solid-state image sensing device, driving method thereof, and image scanner A CCD linear sensor includes a monochrome sensor and a color sensor, which have different transfer speeds and which are mounted on the same chip. In the CCD linear sensor, while one read-out operation is performed by the color sensor, two read-out operations are per... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7352403 | Method for adjusting relative position of lens module by using uniform light source A method for adjusting relative position of a lens module by using a uniform light source is provided. The lens module includes a bottom board, an image sensor, an adjusting module and a lens apparatus. The image sensor is disposed on the bottom board and perpendicu... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7333337 | Electric junction box A heat sink in an electric junction box has thermal diffusion portions having one of convex and concave shapes on the surface. The structure enlarges a surface area of the heat sink compared to a configuration in which a surface has no concavity or convexity, thereb... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7327395 | Autofocus apparatus When a high-frequency component of a video signal that is output from a CCD image sensor (1-2) can be extracted from band-pass filters (1-13, 1-14), the band-pass filters (1-13, 1-14) are changed in accordance ... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7319216 | Light receiving unit and image taking apparatus A first prism 11a and a second prism 12a are joined together on a face-to-face basis. A dichroic mirror 13a is interposed into the junction plane to reflect only G-light. A first imaging device 111a receives th... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7317488 | Method of and system for autofocus An image of a subject is taken by a solid image taking device including a first image taking element having a plurality of pixels and a second image taking element having a plurality of pixels smaller than those of the first image taking element. First and second ev... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7310476 | Imaging apparatus An imaging apparatus is provided which performs optimum zooming and focusing even after long use. The imaging apparatus includes: a lens which is movable along the optical axis; a driving module to drive the lens; a driving amount calculation module to determine a d... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7298412 | Image pickup device, automatic focusing method, automatic exposure method, electronic flash control method and computer program There are provided an image memory which stores one image of a subject, an image fetch section which takes in an image from the image memory to another memory or register in a predetermined unit, a control section which takes charge of the overall control, a face ch... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7298414 | Digital camera autofocus using eye focus measurement Viewfinder apparatus, methods, and digital cameras that provide autofocus using retroreflected eye focus measurements. When a user looks at a part of a scene that is the intended subject of the image, his or her eye is correctly focused. The present invention measur... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7292279 | Solid state image sensing device and photographing apparatus The present invention provides a solid state image sensing device capable of performing high-speed focal point adjustment without using a special optical system and a photographing apparatus including the device. Multiple photoelectric conversion elements are arrang... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7289143 | Image sensing system and control method of controlling to adjust a parameter of a camera apparatus In an image sensing system where a camera apparatus and a client device are connected for controlling the camera apparatus by the client device, the client device displays and arbitrarily shifts a predetermined size of detection area in an object image sensed by the... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7283171 | Image pickup apparatus with external device An image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device configured to convert a monitored object image into an electrical image signal and to output the image signal, a clock generator configured to generate a constant cyclic drive frequency to drive the image pi... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7268499 | Self light emitting device and method of driving thereof A self light emitting device having a function of correcting drops in brightness in self light emitting elements in a pixel portion, and capable of displaying a uniform image without brightness irregularities, is provided. A specific test pattern is displayed when a... | 09/11/2007 |
