Image pickup apparatus having difference encoding and non-linear processing of image signals

Claim 2

An image pickup apparatus comprising: difference encoding means for quantizing a difference between signals from every other pixel in a solid-state image pickup element; non-linear processing means for non-linearly processing an output from said difference encoding means with a predetermined non-linear processing characteristic; A/D conversion means for A/D converting an output of said non-linear processing means with a predetermined conversion characteristic, said predetermined non-linear processing characteristic of said non-linear processing means being set according to said predetermined conversion characteristic of said A/D conversion means; an apparatus main body having an apparatus output terminal for supplying an output from said A/D conversion means; and a storage body capable of recording the output from said apparatus output terminal of said apparatus main body.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said difference encoding means quantizes a difference between signals from a plurality of predetermined pixels in a horizontal direction.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage body includes a memory which is detachable from said apparatus main body.

Claim 5

An image pickup apparatus comprising: a solid-state image pickup element provided with a plurality of color filters; difference encoding means for quantizing a difference between signals from pixels of the same kind of adjacent filters in a horizontal scanning direction of said solid-state image pickup element; non-linear processing means for non-linearly processing an output from said difference encoding means with a predetermined non-linear processing characteristic; A/D conversion means for A/D converting an output of said non-linear processing means with a predetermined conversion characteristic, said predetermined non-linear processing characteristic of said non-linear processing means being set according to said predetermined conversion characteristic of said A/D conversion means; an apparatus main body having an apparatus output terminal for supplying an output from said A/D conversion means; and a storage body capable of recording the output from said apparatus output terminal of said apparatus main body.

Claim 6

An image pickup apparatus comprising: a solid-state image pickup element provided with a plurality of color filters; difference encoding means for quantizing a difference between signals from pixels of the same kind of adjacent filters in a horizontal scanning direction of said solid-state image pickup element; non-linear processing means for non-linearly processing an output from said difference encoding means with a predetermined non-linear processing characteristic; A/D conversion means for A/D converting an output of said non-linear processing means with a predetermined conversion characteristic, said predetermined non-linear processing characteristic of said non-linear processing means being set according to said predetermined conversion characteristic of said A/D conversion means; an apparatus main body having an apparatus output terminal for supplying an output from said A/D conversion means; and a storage body capable of recording the output from said apparatus output terminal of said apparatus main body.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said difference encoding means quantizes a difference between signals from every other pixel.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said storage body includes a memory which is detachable from said apparatus main body.

Claim 9

A digital signal processing apparatus comprising: difference signal forming means for receiving signals from a solid-state image pickup element provided with complementary color filters and forming a signal corresponding to a difference between signals from adjacent pixels; a non-linear processing means for non-linearly processing an output from said difference signal forming means; A/D conversion means for A/D-converting an output from said non-linear processing means; a memory for storing first- and second-system signals as outputs from said A/D conversion means; first addition means for adding the first- and second-system signals sequentially read out from said memory, and outputting line sequential color difference signals; first inverting means for inverting a polarity of the first-system signals sequentially read out from said memory; second inverting means for inverting a polarity of the second-system signals sequentially read out from said memory; first selection means for switching and selecting the first-system signals sequentially read out from said memory and outputs from said first inverting means in units of pixels; second selection means for switching and selecting the second-system signals sequentially read out from said memory and outputs from said second inverting means in units of pixels; first decoding means for decoding the outputs from said first selection means; second decoding means for decoding the outputs from said second selection means; and second addition means for adding the outputs from said first and second decoding means to output a luminance signal.

Claim 10

A digital signal processing apparatus comprising: difference signal forming means for receiving signals from a solid-state image pickup element provided with complementary color filters and forming a signal corresponding to a difference between signals from adjacent pixels; a non-linear processing means for non-linearly processing an output from said difference signal forming means; A/D conversion means for A/D-converting an output from said non-linear processing means; a memory for storing first- and second-system signals as outputs from said A/D conversion means; first addition means for adding the first- and second-system signals sequentially read out from said memory, and outputting line sequential color difference signals; first inverting means for inverting a polarity of the first-system signals sequentially read out from said memory; second inverting means for inverting a polarity of the second-system signals sequentially read out from said memory; first selection means for switching and selecting the first-system signals sequentially read out from said memory and outputs from said first inverting means in units of pixels; second selection means for switching and selecting the second-system signals sequentially read out from said memory and outputs from said second inverting means in units of pixels; first decoding means for decoding the outputs from said first selection means; second decoding means for decoding the outputs from said second selection means; and second addition means for adding the outputs from said first and second decoding means to output a luminance signal.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said difference signal forming means forms a difference signal between signals from pixels of the same kind of color filters.

Claim 12

A digital signal process apparatus comprising: encoding means for non-linearly processing, with a predetermined non-linear processing characteristic, a signal corresponding to a difference between signals from pixels adjacent to each other, and for A/D-converting the non-linearly processed signal with a predetermined conversion characteristic, said predetermined non-linear processing characteristic being set according to said predetermined conversion characteristic; a memory for storing an output from said encoding means; means for forming a color difference signal on the basis of an output from said memory; and means for decoding the output from said memory to form a luminance signal.

Claim 13

A digital signal process apparatus comprising: encoding means for non-linearly processing, with a predetermined non-linear processing characteristic, a signal corresponding to a difference between signals from pixels adjacent to each other, and for A/D-converting the non-linearly processed signal with a predetermined conversion characteristic, said predetermined non-linear processing characteristic being set according to said predetermined conversion characteristic; a memory for storing an output from said encoding means; means for forming a color difference signal on the basis of an output from said memory; and means for decoding the output from said memory to form a luminance signal.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said encoding means A/D-converts the difference between signals from every other pixel.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said encoding means A/D-converts the difference between signals from a plurality of predetermined pixels in a horizontal direction.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said encoding means A/D-converts the difference between signals from pixels of the same kind of color filters.

Claim 17

A signal process apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of channels, each of which includes: means for sampling and holding signals from spatially adjacent pixels to which the same kind of color filters are attached; and DPCM-type A/D-conversion means for, in accordance with a predetermined non-linear processing characteristic, non-linearly processing a difference between outputs from said sampling and holding means, and for A/D converting, in accordance with a predetermined conversion characteristic, the non-linearly processed difference, said predetermined non-linear processing characteristic being set in accordance with the predetermined conversion characteristic of said A/D conversion means.

Claim 18

A signal process apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of channels, each of which includes: means for sampling and holding signals from spatially adjacent pixels to which the same kind of color filters are attached; and DPCM-type A/D-conversion means for, in accordance with a predetermined non-linear processing characteristic, non-linearly processing a difference between outputs from said sampling and holding means, and for A/D converting, in accordance with a predetermined conversion characteristic, the non-linearly processed difference, said predetermined non-linear processing characteristic being set in accordance with the predetermined conversion characteristic of said A/D conversion means.