White balance correction device

Claim 2

An image sensing apparatus comprising: a) image sensing means for converting an object image into an electrical output; b) white balance control signal forming means for forming a white balance control signal based on said output of said image sensing means; c) determining means for determining a kind of color in the output of said image sensing means; and d) correction means for correcting said white balance control signal by changing a predetermined first color signal of said output of said image sensing means into a predetermined second color signal different from said first color signal in accordance with an output of said determining means.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising gain control means for controlling the gains of a plurality of color signals included in the output of said image sensing means.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said gain control means is controlled based on the levels of predetermined color-difference signals included in the output of said image sensing means.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determining means includes dividing means for dividing the output of said image sensing means into a plurality of areas.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said dividing means includes gate means.

Claim 7

An image sensing apparatus comprising: a) image sensing means for converting an object image into an electrical output; b) white balance control signal forming means for forming a white balance control signal based on of said output of said image sensing means; c) dividing means for dividing, into a plurality of areas, the object image converted into said output of said image sensing means; d) determining means for determining the color of each of said plurality of areas; and e) correction means for correcting said white balance control signal by changing a predetermined first color signal of said output of said image sensing means into a predetermined second color signal different from said first color signal in accordance with an output of said determining means.

Claim 8

An image sensing apparatus comprising: a) image sensing means for converting an object image into an electrical output; b) white balance control signal forming means for forming a white balance control signal based on of said output of said image sensing means; c) dividing means for dividing, into a plurality of areas, the object image converted into said output of said image sensing means; d) determining means for determining the color of each of said plurality of areas; and e) correction means for correcting said white balance control signal by changing a predetermined first color signal of said output of said image sensing means into a predetermined second color signal different from said first color signal in accordance with an output of said determining means.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising gain control means for controlling the gains of a plurality of color signals included in the output of said image sensing means.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said gain control means is controlled based on the levels of predetermined color-difference signals included in the output of said image sensing means.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said dividing means includes gate means.

Claim 12

An image sensing apparatus, comprising: (d) determining means for determining a kind of color in one picture plane from an image signal of said one picture plane; (b) color balance control means for effecting color balance control of the image signal on the basis of said image signal; and (c) means for varying the control operation of said color balance control means by changing a predetermined first color signal of said image signal into a predetermined second color signal different from said first color signal in accordance with an output of said determining means.

Claim 13

An image sensing apparatus, comprising: (d) determining means for determining a kind of color in one picture plane from an image signal of said one picture plane; (b) color balance control means for effecting color balance control of the image signal on the basis of said image signal; and (c) means for varying the control operation of said color balance control means by changing a predetermined first color signal of said image signal into a predetermined second color signal different from said first color signal in accordance with an output of said determining means.

Claim 14

An image sensing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said image signal is comprised of an output of image sensing means which is arranged to effect a photoelectric conversion of an image light coming from an object.

Claim 15

An image sensing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said determining means includes dividing means for dividing one image plane into a plurality of areas and averaging means for averaging color components in each of the divided areas.

Claim 16

An image sensing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said color balance control means includes an amplifier.

Claim 17

An image sensing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said image signal includes a plurality of color difference signals.

Claim 18

An image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said dividing means includes gate means.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein aid predetermined first color signal is a color signal remote from an R-B axis.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined first color signal includes a yellow signal.

Claim 21

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined second color signal is a color signal which substantially satisfies the equation R-B+0.

Claim 22

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined first color signal is a color signal remote from an R-B axis.

Claim 23

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined first color signal includes a yellow signal.

Claim 24

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined second color signal is a color signal which substantially satisfies the equation R-B=0.

Claim 25

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined first color signal is a color signal remote from an R-B axis.

Claim 26

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined first color signal includes a yellow signal.

Claim 27

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined second color signal is a color signal which substantially satisfies the equation R-B=0.