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US5001552A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

White balance correction using prestored flash lamp color temperature data

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1989-03-27
•
Granted: 1991-03-19
•
Expires: 2009-03-27
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Abstract

Abstract Color temperature data of a flash lamp is stored in a memory device. Ambient light color temperature data, without the flash, is detected. White balance is adjusted based on the stored data and the detected data.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tadashi Okino

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 10:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/74; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N23/88

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 74 words
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) a memory for storing a color temperature data of a flash light; (b) detecting means for detecting an ambient color temperature data under a state where the flash light is not emitted; and (c) white balance control means for effecting white balance control of an image signal by using the color temperature data stored in said memory and the ambient color temperature data detected by said detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 74 words
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) a memory for storing a color temperature data of a flash light; (b) detecting means for detecting an ambient color temperature data under a state where the flash light is not emitted; and (c) white balance control means for effecting white balance control of an image signal by using the color temperature data stored in said memory and the ambient color temperature data detected by said detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes a plurality of color sensors which have different spectral characteristics from each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of color sensors include a R color sensor and a B color sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of color sensors further includes a G color sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said white balance control means includes image sensing means arranged to convert an optical image into an image signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said white balance control means is arranged to control relative gains of respective colors contained in the image signal formed by the image sensing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, further including: a brightness detector for detecting a brightness of an ambient light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said white balance control means is arranged to control white balance, by using an output of said brightness detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 94 words
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) a memory for storing a color temperature data of a flash light; (b) detecting means for detecting an ambient color temperature data under a state where the flash light is not emitted; (c) brightness detecting means for detecting a brightness of an object; and (d) white balance control means for controlling a white balance of an image signal in accordance with the color temperature data stored in said memory, the ambient color temperature data detected by said detecting means and the brightness detected by said brightness detecting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 94 words
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) a memory for storing a color temperature data of a flash light; (b) detecting means for detecting an ambient color temperature data under a state where the flash light is not emitted; (c) brightness detecting means for detecting a brightness of an object; and (d) white balance control means for controlling a white balance of an image signal in accordance with the color temperature data stored in said memory, the ambient color temperature data detected by said detecting means and the brightness detected by said brightness detecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said detecting means includes a plurality of color sensors which have different spectral characteristics from each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of color sensors include a R color sensor and a B color sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of color sensors further includes a G color sensor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said white balance control means includes image sensing means arranged to convert an optical image into an image signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 32 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said white balance control means is arranged to control relative gains of respective colors contained in the image signal formed by the image sensing means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3627911A Cited
US4274107A Cited
US4395730A Cited
US4679066A Cited
US4847680A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-03-18 1994-09-17 1995-03-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-03-18 1998-09-17 1999-03-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-03-18 2002-09-17 2003-03-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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