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US4504866A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image sensing apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1983-12-19
•
Granted: 1985-03-12
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Expires: 2003-12-19
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Abstract

Abstract An image sensing apparatus includes a solid-state image sensor which converts the image of an object to be photographed into an electrical signal; a shutter which controls a length of time which the image sensor is allowed to irradiate with an image bearing light flux; a storage time control circuit which controls the electric charge storing time of the image sensor; and a setting circuit for setting an exposure time. The setting circuit controls the exposure time by selectively using either the storage control circuit or the shutter in accordance with the output thereof.

Inventors

  • 👤 Syuichiro Saito

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 09:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/73; H04N23/74; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S358/00; Y10S358/906

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 108 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) storage time control means for variably controlling a storage time allowed for storing an electrical image signal at said image sensing means; (c) shutter means for limiting an incident time of said optical image on said image sensing means; and (d) setting means for controlling the quantity of the image signal to be stored at said image sensing means, said setting means having the storage time control by said storage time control means and the incident time control by said shutter means accomplished in predetermined combination with each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 108 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) storage time control means for variably controlling a storage time allowed for storing an electrical image signal at said image sensing means; (c) shutter means for limiting an incident time of said optical image on said image sensing means; and (d) setting means for controlling the quantity of the image signal to be stored at said image sensing means, said setting means having the storage time control by said storage time control means and the incident time control by said shutter means accomplished in predetermined combination with each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage time control means controls a read-out period for reading out an electrical image signal at said image sensing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image sensing means is a CCD solid-state image sensor; and said storage time control means is arranged to control the transfer period of said CCD solid-state image sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shutter means includes a rotary shutter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 50 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means sets a predetermined value of time and varies the combination of the storage time control state by said storage time control means and the incident time control state by said shutter means in accordance with said predetermined value of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said setting means fixes the storage time and varies the light incident time defined by said shutter means when a setting value of time is shorter than said predetermined value of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 45 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said setting means releases limitation of the incident time by said shutter means and varies the storage time by said storage time control means when said setting value of time is longer than said predetermined value of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 92 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) storage time control means for variably controlling a storage time allowed for storing an electrical image signal at said image sensing means; (c) shutter means for limiting an incident time of said optical image on said image sensing means; and (d) setting means arranged to form a signal for selectively causing either said storage time control means to perform time varying control thereof or said shutter means to perform time varying control thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 92 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) storage time control means for variably controlling a storage time allowed for storing an electrical image signal at said image sensing means; (c) shutter means for limiting an incident time of said optical image on said image sensing means; and (d) setting means arranged to form a signal for selectively causing either said storage time control means to perform time varying control thereof or said shutter means to perform time varying control thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said storage time control means controls a read-out period for reading out an electrical image signal at said image sensing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said image sensing means is a CCD solid-state image sensor; and said storage time control means is arranged to control the transfer period of said CCD solid-state image sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said shutter means includes a rotary shutter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 49 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said setting means sets a predetermined value of time and the combination of the storage time control state by said storage time control means and the incident time control state by said shutter means in accordance with said predetermined value of time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 39 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said setting means fixes the storage time and varies the light incident time defined by said shutter means when a setting value of time is shorter than said predetermined value of time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 45 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said setting means releases limitation of the incident time by said shutter means and varies the storage time by said storage time control means when said setting value of time is longer than said predetermined value of time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 118 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) a rotary shutter arranged to limit the incident time of an optical image on said image sensing means; (c) opening angle control means for controlling the opening angle of said rotary shutter; and (d) setting means having two operating modes, said setting means, in one mode, varying said opening angle by said opening angle control means in accordance with a setting value and, in the other mode, causing said opening angle control means to bring said rotary shutter to a stop in a state of not limiting incident light on said image sensing means at a predetermined setting value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 118 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) a rotary shutter arranged to limit the incident time of an optical image on said image sensing means; (c) opening angle control means for controlling the opening angle of said rotary shutter; and (d) setting means having two operating modes, said setting means, in one mode, varying said opening angle by said opening angle control means in accordance with a setting value and, in the other mode, causing said opening angle control means to bring said rotary shutter to a stop in a state of not limiting incident light on said image sensing means at a predetermined setting value.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4161000A Cited
US4280141A Cited
JPS5644271A Cited
US4399464A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-03-11 1988-09-10 1989-03-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-03-11 1992-09-10 1993-03-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-03-11 1996-09-10 1997-03-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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