US5239368A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High speed color balance adjusting device capable of compensating for a flickering light source
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1990-10-19
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Granted: 1993-08-24
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Expires: 2010-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A device performs color balance adjustment on the basis of color temperature information obtained by adding up measured color information outputs sampled from color sensors which obtain measured color information from an object to be photographed.
Inventors
- 👤 Masao Suzuki
- 👤 Seiji Hashimoto
- 👤 Akihiko Tojo
- 👤 Tsutomu Takayama
- 👤 Toshio Kaji
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N23/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a) image pick-up means for converting an image of an object into a video signal; b) sensing means for sensing a condition of said object, said sensing means producing a condition signal according to said condition for said object; c) detecting means for detecting fluctuations of said condition signal produced by said sensing means; d) sampling means for periodically sampling said condition signal to produce a sampled signal; and e) means for processing said sampled signal produced by said sampling means, said processing means being arranged to output an averaged signal representing an average of said sampled signal for a predetermined period when a predetermined level of fluctuations is detected by said detecting means and to output said sampled signal when said fluctuations are not detected by said detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a) image pick-up means for converting an image of an object into a video signal; b) sensing means for sensing a condition of said object, said sensing means producing a condition signal according to said condition for said object; c) detecting means for detecting fluctuations of said condition signal produced by said sensing means; d) sampling means for periodically sampling said condition signal to produce a sampled signal; and e) means for processing said sampled signal produced by said sampling means, said processing means being arranged to output an averaged signal representing an average of said sampled signal for a predetermined period when a predetermined level of fluctuations is detected by said detecting means and to output said sampled signal when said fluctuations are not detected by said detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes means for detecting the color of the object and for producing color temperature information signals corresponding to the color of the object as said condition signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes: a) means for detecting the largest value of said sampled signal produced from said sampling means; b) means for detecting the smallest value of said sampled signal produced from said sampling means; and c) means for making a discrimination when a difference between said smallest and largest values exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image pick-up means produces the video signal including a plurality of color components, and the apparatus further comprising control means for controlling the ratio between said plurality of color components of said video signal on the basis of the output of said processing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control means includes: a) amplifying means for amplifying a plurality of color components of said video signal; and b) means for controlling the degree of amplification by said amplifying means on the basis of the output of said processing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image pick-up apparatus which is usable under two light sources having different flickering periods, comprising: a) color image pick-up means for converting an image of an object into a color video signal; b) sensing means for sensing a color temperature information; c) sampling means for periodically sampling the color temperature information to produce a sampled information; d) averaging means for averaging the sampled information for a predetermined period, said predetermined period being related to both of said flickering periods; and e) adjusting means for effecting white balance adjustment of the color video signal in accordance with an output of said averaging means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image pick-up apparatus which is usable under two light sources having different flickering periods, comprising: a) color image pick-up means for converting an image of an object into a color video signal; b) sensing means for sensing a color temperature information; c) sampling means for periodically sampling the color temperature information to produce a sampled information; d) averaging means for averaging the sampled information for a predetermined period, said predetermined period being related to both of said flickering periods; and e) adjusting means for effecting white balance adjustment of the color video signal in accordance with an output of said averaging means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said averaging means includes low-pass means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sampling means is arranged to effect sampling at sampling timing which is synchronized with driving timing of said color image pick-up means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
A white-balance adjusting apparatus, comprising: a) analog-to-digital conversion means for digitizing color temperature information, said analog-to-digital conversion means periodically operating at a predetermined frequency; b) color image pick-up means; c) control means for synchronizing image pick-up timing of the color image pick-up means with operating timing of said analog-to-digital conversion means; and d) adjusting means for controlling a white-balance of an output of the color image pick-up means, depending upon a digital output of said analog-to-digital conversion means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
A white-balance adjusting apparatus, comprising: a) analog-to-digital conversion means for digitizing color temperature information, said analog-to-digital conversion means periodically operating at a predetermined frequency; b) color image pick-up means; c) control means for synchronizing image pick-up timing of the color image pick-up means with operating timing of said analog-to-digital conversion means; and d) adjusting means for controlling a white-balance of an output of the color image pick-up means, depending upon a digital output of said analog-to-digital conversion means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, and further comprising averaging means or averaging the digital output of said analog-to-digital conversion means for a predetermined period.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined period is 1/20 second.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image pick-up apparatus, comprising: a) color image pick-up means for forming a color image signal in accordance with an image of an object, said color image pick-up means being arranged to be capable of controlling an accumulation period; b) color detecting means, separate from said image pick-up means, for detecting color temperature information of the object, said color detecting means being arranged to form the color temperature information only for a period corresponding to said accumulation period; and c) adjusting means for controlling a white-balance of an output of said image pick-up means, depending upon an output of said color detecting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image pick-up apparatus, comprising: a) color image pick-up means for forming a color image signal in accordance with an image of an object, said color image pick-up means being arranged to be capable of controlling an accumulation period; b) color detecting means, separate from said image pick-up means, for detecting color temperature information of the object, said color detecting means being arranged to form the color temperature information only for a period corresponding to said accumulation period; and c) adjusting means for controlling a white-balance of an output of said image pick-up means, depending upon an output of said color detecting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, and further comprising sampling means for periodically sampling the output of said color detecting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, and further comprising averaging means for averaging the output of said sampling means for a predetermined period.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined period is 1/20 seconds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said averaging means includes low-pass means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electronic still camera which is useable under a light source having a predetermined flickering period, comprising: a) a color image pick-up means for forming a color image signal in accordance with an image of an object; b) color detecting means, separate from said image pick-up means, for forming color temperature information of the object; c) sampling means for periodically sampling an output of said color detecting means; d) averaging means for averaging the output of said sampling means for a predetermined period related to the flickering period; and e) adjusting means for adjusting a white-balance of an output of the image pick-up means in accordance with the output of said averaging means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electronic still camera which is useable under a light source having a predetermined flickering period, comprising: a) a color image pick-up means for forming a color image signal in accordance with an image of an object; b) color detecting means, separate from said image pick-up means, for forming color temperature information of the object; c) sampling means for periodically sampling an output of said color detecting means; d) averaging means for averaging the output of said sampling means for a predetermined period related to the flickering period; and e) adjusting means for adjusting a white-balance of an output of the image pick-up means in accordance with the output of said averaging means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said predetermined period is 1/20 seconds.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said sampling means effects sampling at sampling timing which is synchronized with driving timing of said color image pick-up means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-23 | 1997-02-22 | 1997-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-23 | 2001-02-22 | 2001-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-23 | 2005-02-22 | 2005-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |