US4931856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image sensing apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1989-02-16
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Granted: 1990-06-05
•
Expires: 2009-02-16
Abstract
Abstract The image sensing apparatus includes a first circuit for forming a signal to control the gains of the various color signals included in the outputs of a image sensing device in accordance with the amplitudes of the color-difference signals of the various color signals, a second circuit for forming a signal to control the gains of the various color signals in accordance with the color temperature of an object to be photographed, and a gain control circuit for controlling and determining the gains of the various color signals in response to a combined output of the signals formed by the first and second circuits.
Inventors
- 👤 Teruo Hieda
- 👤 Masao Suzuki
- 👤 Hitoshi Narita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N23/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A color image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical picture signal having various color signal components; (b) distinction means for distinguishing color balance conditions of said various color signal components; (c) white balance control means responsive to an output of said distinction means for controlling white balance of said various color signal components; (d) light detection means other than said image sensing means for detecting a color temperature condition of an object image to be picked up and for generating an output signal corresponding to said color temperature; and (e) compensation means for generating a compensation output signal in response to the output of said light detection means for compensating said white balance of said various color signal components controlled by said white balance control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A color image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical picture signal having various color signal components; (b) distinction means for distinguishing color balance conditions of said various color signal components; (c) white balance control means responsive to an output of said distinction means for controlling white balance of said various color signal components; (d) light detection means other than said image sensing means for detecting a color temperature condition of an object image to be picked up and for generating an output signal corresponding to said color temperature; and (e) compensation means for generating a compensation output signal in response to the output of said light detection means for compensating said white balance of said various color signal components controlled by said white balance control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distinction means distinguishes whether or not said various color signal components are in the same ratio.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said distinction means includes means for forming a color difference signal from the electrical picture signal of said image sensing means, and distinguishes whether the color-difference signal formed by said color difference signal forming means is zero or not.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distinction means includes a counter changing the counting condition in response to the color balance condition of said various color signal components.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said white balance control means controls white balance of an R signal component and a B signal component of the electrical picture signal of said image sensing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switch for selectively causing said white balance control means, responsive to the output of said distinction means, to control said white balance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light detection means includes a plurality of sensors for detecting different colors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of sensors includes a sensor for detecting R (red) color and a sensor for detecting B (blue) color.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said light detection means forms a signal corresponding to the ratio of the output levels of said plurality of sensors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising mixing means for mixing the output of said compensation means and the output of said distinction means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said mixing means includes an adder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) color image sensing means for sensing an optical image to produce an output having various color signal components; (b) setting means for setting a correlation between said various color signal components at a predetermined ratio in accordance with the output of said color image sensing means; (c) light detecting means other than said color image sensing means for detecting color temperature; and (d) compensation means for compensating said predetermined ratio in accordance with a color temperature condition of an object image to be picked up.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) color image sensing means for sensing an optical image to produce an output having various color signal components; (b) setting means for setting a correlation between said various color signal components at a predetermined ratio in accordance with the output of said color image sensing means; (c) light detecting means other than said color image sensing means for detecting color temperature; and (d) compensation means for compensating said predetermined ratio in accordance with a color temperature condition of an object image to be picked up.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said setting means sets the relative ratio of the various color signal components of the output of said color image sensing means at 1:1:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said setting means sets relative gains of said various color signal components at a predetermined state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said compensation means compensates said predetermined ratio in accordance with a distribution of colors included in light from said object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a switch for selectively operating said setting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
161 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) color image sensing means for sensing an optical image to produce an output having various color signal component, each having a respective signal level; (b) first control means responsive to the levels of said various color signal components of the output of said color image sensing means for controlling gains of said various color signal components; (c) light detection means separated from said color image sensing means for detecting a color temperature of an object to be photographed and producing an output signal, corresponding said color temperature of an object to be photographed; (d) second control means responsive to the output of said light detection means for controlling said gains of said various color signal components of the output of said color image sensing means; and (e) third control means for controlling said gains of said various color signal components by operating said first control means and said second control means in a predetermined combination.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
161 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) color image sensing means for sensing an optical image to produce an output having various color signal component, each having a respective signal level; (b) first control means responsive to the levels of said various color signal components of the output of said color image sensing means for controlling gains of said various color signal components; (c) light detection means separated from said color image sensing means for detecting a color temperature of an object to be photographed and producing an output signal, corresponding said color temperature of an object to be photographed; (d) second control means responsive to the output of said light detection means for controlling said gains of said various color signal components of the output of said color image sensing means; and (e) third control means for controlling said gains of said various color signal components by operating said first control means and said second control means in a predetermined combination.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a switch for selectively operating said first control means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said third control means has a mode for inhibiting said second control means from controlling said gains when the outputs of said detection means is out of a predetermined range.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said third control means has a mode for inhibiting said first control means from controlling said gains when a control by said first control means is out of a predetermined range.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said third control means has a mode for making said gains of said various color signal components at a predetermined level when said first control means does not control said gains.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 17, in which said third control means has a mode for selectively operating one of said first and second control means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 22, in which said third control means includes a switch member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 23, in which said switch member is a manually operable switch member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
134 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) color image sensing means for sensing an optical image to produce an output having various color signal components, each having a respective signal level; (b) first means responsive to the levels of said various color signal components of the output of said color image sensing means for forming a signal to control gains of said various color signal components; (c) second means other than said color image sensing means responsive to a color temperature of an object image to be picked up for forming a signal to control said gains of said various signal components; and (d) gain control means responsive to a combined output of the signals formed by said first and said second means for controlling and determining said gains of said various color signal components.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
134 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) color image sensing means for sensing an optical image to produce an output having various color signal components, each having a respective signal level; (b) first means responsive to the levels of said various color signal components of the output of said color image sensing means for forming a signal to control gains of said various color signal components; (c) second means other than said color image sensing means responsive to a color temperature of an object image to be picked up for forming a signal to control said gains of said various signal components; and (d) gain control means responsive to a combined output of the signals formed by said first and said second means for controlling and determining said gains of said various color signal components.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 25, in which said gain control means is responsive to a selective output of the signals formed by said first and said second means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 25, in which said gain control means is responsive to an added output of the signals formed by said first and said second means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
124 words
A color image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) color image sensing means for sensing an optical image to produce an output having various color signal components; (b) first control means responsive to levels of said various color signal components of the output of said color image sensing means for controlling relative levels of said various color signal components; (c) detecting means for detecting color temperature of an incident light from an object field to generate a signal corresponding to the color temperature; (d) second control means responsive to the signal representing the color temperature generated by said detecting means for controlling said relative level of said various color signal components; and (e) switching means for selectively operating one of said first and second control means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
124 words
A color image sensing apparatus comprising: (a) color image sensing means for sensing an optical image to produce an output having various color signal components; (b) first control means responsive to levels of said various color signal components of the output of said color image sensing means for controlling relative levels of said various color signal components; (c) detecting means for detecting color temperature of an incident light from an object field to generate a signal corresponding to the color temperature; (d) second control means responsive to the signal representing the color temperature generated by said detecting means for controlling said relative level of said various color signal components; and (e) switching means for selectively operating one of said first and second control means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising: indicating means for indicating that the operation of said first control means is abnormal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising: indicating means for indicating that the operation of said second control means is abnormal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
A color image sensing apparatus according to claim 28, in which said switching means includes a manually operable switch member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-04 | 1993-12-04 | 1994-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-04 | 1997-12-04 | 1998-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-04 | 2001-12-04 | 2002-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |