Patent EP0595299A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0595299A2
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EP
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An imaging method and device for a wide dynamic range
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1993-10-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A method for producing an image with a wide dynamic range using an imaging element in which periods for accumulating charges can be varied in one field is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: reading a charge stored in the imaging element in a first period of the field as a first signal; reading a charge stored in the imaging element in a second period of the field as a second signal, the second period being different from the first period; applying a first weight to the first signal in accordance with the level of the first signal; applying a second weight to the second signal in accordance with the level of the second signal; producing a synthesized signal by synthesizing the weighted first signal and the weighted second signal; and compressing the level of the synthesized signal to a predetermined standard level.
Inventors
- 👤 Atsushi Morimura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for producing an image with a wide dynamic range using an imaging element in which periods for accumulating charges can be varied in one field, said method comprising the steps of: reading a charge stored in said imaging element in a first period of the field as a first signal; reading a charge stored in said imaging element in a second period of the field as a second signal, said second period being different from said first period; applying a first weight to said first signal in accordance with a level of said first signal; applying a second weight to said second signal in accordance with a level of said second signal; producing a synthesized signal by synthesizing said weighted first signal and said weighted second signal; and compressing a level of said synthesized signal to a predetermined standard level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein in one field, said first period precedes said second period in time, and said first period is shorter than said second period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said first period and said second period are substantially continuous or adjacent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein, when said first period is shorter than said second period, said step of applying a first weight includes the step of applying a larger weight to a higher level of said first signal, and said step of applying a second weight includes the step of applying a larger weight to a lower level of said second signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: reading a charge stored in said imaging element in a third period of the field as a third signal, said third period being different from said first and second periods; and applying a third weight to said third signal in accordance with a level of said third signal, wherein said step of producing a synthesized signal includes the step of producing a synthesized signal by synthesizing said weighted first signal, said weighted second signal, and said weighted third signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein, when said first period is shorter than said second period, and said second period is shorter than said third period, said step of applying a first weight includes the stop of applying a larger weight to a higher level of said first signal, said step of applying a second weight includes the step of applying a larger weight to an intermediate level of said second signal, and said step of applying a third weight includes the step of applying a larger weight to a lower level of said third signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said compressing step includes the steps of: separating said synthesized signal based on respective frequency components; compressing, for lower frequency components of said synthesized signal, said signal over all levels of said signal; compressing, for intermediate frequency components of said synthesized signal, said signal when a level of said signal has a predetermined first value or less, and clipping said signal when the level of said signal exceeds said predetermined first value; and compressing, for higher frequency components of said synthesized signal, said signal when a level of said signal has a predetermined second value or less, and clipping said signal when the level of said signal exceeds said predetermined second value, said predetermined first value being larger than said predetermined second value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
153 words
An imaging device for producing an image with a wide dynamic range using an imaging element in which periods for accumulating charges can be varied in one field, said imaging device comprising: means for reading a charge stored in said imaging element in a first period of the field as a first signal; means for reading a charge stored in said imaging element in a second period of the field as a second signal, said second period being different from said first period; means for applying a first weight to said first signal in accordance with a level of said first signal; means for applying a second weight to said second signal in accordance with a level of said second signal; means for producing a synthesized signal by synthesizing said weighted first signal and said weighted second signal; and means for compressing a level of said synthesized signal to a predetermined standard level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An imaging device according to claim 8, wherein in one field, said first period precedes said second period in time, and said first period is shorter than said second period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An imaging device according to claim 8, wherein said first period and said second period are substantially continuous or adjacent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
An imaging device according to claim 8, wherein, when said first period is shorter than said second period, said means for applying a first weight applies a larger weight to a higher level of said first signal, and said means for applying a second weight applies a larger weight to a lower level of said second signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
An imaging device according to claim 8, further comprising: means for reading a charge stored in said imaging element in a third period of the field as a third signal, said third period being different from said first and second periods; and means for applying a third weight to said third signal in accordance with a level of said third signal, wherein said means for producing a synthesized signal produces a synthesized signal by synthesizing said weighted first signal, said weighted second signal, and said weighted third signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
An imaging device according to claim 12, wherein, when said first period is shorter than said second period, and said second period is shorter than said third period, said means for applying a first weight applies a larger weight to a higher level of said first signal, said means for applying a second weight applies a larger weight to an intermediate level of said second signal, and said means for applying a third weight applies a larger weight to a lower level of said third signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
136 words
An imaging device according to claim 8, wherein said compressing means includes: means for separating said synthesized signal based on respective frequency components; means for compressing, for lower frequency components of said synthesized signal, said signal over all levels of said signal; means for compressing, for intermediate frequency components of said synthesized signal, said signal when a level of said signal has a predetermined first value or less, and clipping said signal when the level of said signal exceeds said predetermined first value; and means for compressing, for higher frequency components of said synthesized signal, said signal when a level of said signal has a predetermined second value or less, and clipping said signal when the level of said signal exceeds said predetermined second value, said predetermined first value being larger than said predetermined second value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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