US5283655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video camera apparatus having solid state imager
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1992-09-15
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Granted: 1994-02-01
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Expires: 2012-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A video camera apparatus having a solid state imager for generating video signals and a black level balance adjusting circuit for automatically adjusting black levels of the video signals. The video camera apparatus comprises an incident light control device, an electronic shutter control circuit, a comparator and a processor. The incident light control device controls the amount of light incident to the solid state imager. The electronic shutter control circuit varies the mode of the solid state imager between at least a first mode and a second mode. The effective accumulating period of the solid state imager in the first mode is different from the corresponding period in the second mode. The comparator compares the voltage level of the video signal obtained in the first mode with that obtained in the second mode. The processor controls the electronic shutter control circuit and the comparator, and activates the black level balance adjusting circuit when the voltage levels of the video signals obtained in the first and the second modes are substantially the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Makoto Usami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N23/88; H04N5/00; H04N5/14; H04N5/16; H04N5/165; H04N25/00; H04N25/40; H04N25/44; H04N25/447; H04N25/50; H04N25/57; H04N25/58; H04N25/60; H04N25/63; H04N25/68; H04N25/683; H04N25/70; H04N9/00; H04N9/64; H04N9/73
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A video camera apparatus comprising: variable mode solid state imaging means for generating video signals and having an effective accumulating period, said video signals having voltage levels which are a function of the accumulating period, black level balance adjusting means for automatically adjusting black levels of said video signals; incident light control means for controlling the amount of light incident to said solid state imaging means; electronic shutter control means for varying the mode of said solid state imaging means between at least a first mode and a second mode, the effective accumulating period of said solid state imaging means in said first mode being of different temporal duration than the effective accumulating period in said second mode; comparator means for comparing the voltage level of the video signal obtained in said first mode with that obtained in said second mode; and processing means for controlling said electronic shutter control means and said comparator means, and for activating said black level balance adjusting means when the voltage levels of said video signals obtained in said first and said second modes are substantially the same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A video camera apparatus comprising: variable mode solid state imaging means for generating video signals and having an effective accumulating period, said video signals having voltage levels which are a function of the accumulating period, black level balance adjusting means for automatically adjusting black levels of said video signals; incident light control means for controlling the amount of light incident to said solid state imaging means; electronic shutter control means for varying the mode of said solid state imaging means between at least a first mode and a second mode, the effective accumulating period of said solid state imaging means in said first mode being of different temporal duration than the effective accumulating period in said second mode; comparator means for comparing the voltage level of the video signal obtained in said first mode with that obtained in said second mode; and processing means for controlling said electronic shutter control means and said comparator means, and for activating said black level balance adjusting means when the voltage levels of said video signals obtained in said first and said second modes are substantially the same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A video camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said incident light control means is a mechanical iris which can be operated automatically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A video camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means activates said black level balance adjusting means when the difference between the voltage levels of said video signals obtained in said first and said second modes is less than a predetermined voltage level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A video camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said said electronic shutter control means repeats the varying of the mode of said solid state imaging means between said first mode and said second mode when the voltage levels of said video signals obtained in said first mode and those obtained in said second mode are not substantially the same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A video camera apparatus according to claim 4, further including means for activating said processing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A video camera apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said processing means stops controlling said electronic shutter control means and said comparator means when a predetermined time has elapsed after activation of said processing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video camera apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for indicating warning information when said predetermined time has elapsed after activation of said processing means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
185 words
An apparatus for detecting an absence of light incident on a solid state imaging means having an effective accumulating period and having different operating modes, said apparatus comprising: electronic shutter control means for controlling the effective accumulating period of said solid state imaging means and for varying the mode of said solid state imaging means between at least a first mode and a second mode, the effective accumulating period of said solid state imaging means in said first mode being of different temporal duration than the corresponding period in said second mode such that said solid state imaging means produces video signals having voltage levels which are a function of the accumulating period; a comparator means for comparing the voltage level of the video signal obtained in said first mode with that obtained in said second mode so as to produce a difference between the voltage levels of the video signals obtained in said first and second modes; and means for detecting the absence of incident light when the difference between the voltage levels of said video signals is less than a predetermined voltage level.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
185 words
An apparatus for detecting an absence of light incident on a solid state imaging means having an effective accumulating period and having different operating modes, said apparatus comprising: electronic shutter control means for controlling the effective accumulating period of said solid state imaging means and for varying the mode of said solid state imaging means between at least a first mode and a second mode, the effective accumulating period of said solid state imaging means in said first mode being of different temporal duration than the corresponding period in said second mode such that said solid state imaging means produces video signals having voltage levels which are a function of the accumulating period; a comparator means for comparing the voltage level of the video signal obtained in said first mode with that obtained in said second mode so as to produce a difference between the voltage levels of the video signals obtained in said first and second modes; and means for detecting the absence of incident light when the difference between the voltage levels of said video signals is less than a predetermined voltage level.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for detecting an absence of light incident on a solid state imaging means having an effective accumulating period controlled by electronic shutter control means, said method comprising the steps of: generating a voltage level of a video signal derived from said solid state imaging means in a first effective accumulating period; generating a voltage level of a video signal derived from said solid state imaging means in a second effective accumulating period which is of different temporal duration than said first effective accumulating period; producing a difference between voltage levels of the video signals obtained in said first and said second effective accumulating periods; and detecting the absence of incident light when the difference between the voltage levels of said video signals is less than a predetermined voltage.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for detecting an absence of light incident on a solid state imaging means having an effective accumulating period controlled by electronic shutter control means, said method comprising the steps of: generating a voltage level of a video signal derived from said solid state imaging means in a first effective accumulating period; generating a voltage level of a video signal derived from said solid state imaging means in a second effective accumulating period which is of different temporal duration than said first effective accumulating period; producing a difference between voltage levels of the video signals obtained in said first and said second effective accumulating periods; and detecting the absence of incident light when the difference between the voltage levels of said video signals is less than a predetermined voltage.
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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) | 1997-01-31 | 1997-08-02 | 1998-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-31 | 2001-08-02 | 2002-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-31 | 2005-08-02 | 2006-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |