Patent US5315394A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5315394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Auto-iris method and apparatus for imaging device
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1991-09-03
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Granted: 1994-05-24
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Expires: 2011-09-03
Abstract
Abstract An auto-iris method for an imaging device includes the steps of obtaining a first signal indicating brightness of an object from a signal output from an imaging element; comparing a level of the first signal with a level of a reference signal; and enhancing a level of the reference signal more as the object becomes brighter and controlling an iris to path more quantity of light to the imaging element, based on the compared result.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomoyuki Kurashige
- 👤 Takuya Imaide
- 👤 Hiroyuki Tarumizu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/70; H04N23/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
An auto-iris method for an imaging device comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a first signal indicating brightness of an object to be imaged from an output signal of an imaging element; (b) comparing a level of said first signal with a level of a reference signal; and (c) controlling an iris to pass a larger quantity of light to said imaging element as said object becomes brighter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
An auto-iris method for an imaging device comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a first signal indicating brightness of an object to be imaged from an output signal of an imaging element; (b) comparing a level of said first signal with a level of a reference signal; and (c) controlling an iris to pass a larger quantity of light to said imaging element as said object becomes brighter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An auto-iris method according to claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said iris includes a step of enhancing a level of said reference signal more as an iris value becomes larger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An auto-iris method according to claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said iris includes a step of lowering a gain of said first signal level as said iris value becomes larger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An auto-iris method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of enhancing a gain of a level of a video signal obtained from a signal output from said imaging element more as said iris value becomes larger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
An auto-iris method according to claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said iris includes the steps of: detecting a color temperature from said signal output from said imaging element; and enhancing a level of said reference signal more as said color temperature becomes higher.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An auto-iris method according to claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said iris includes the steps of: detecting a color temperature from a signal output from said imaging element; and lowering a level of said first signal as said color temperature becomes higher.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
An auto-iris method according to claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said iris includes the steps of: detecting a color temperature from a signal output from said imaging element; and enhancing a gain of a level of a video signal obtained from the output signal of said imaging element more as said color temperature becomes higher.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
An auto-iris method according to claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said iris includes the steps of: detecting brightness of said object with an added optical detector; and enhancing a level of said reference signal more as brightness of said object determined from the output of said optical detector becomes brighter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
An auto-iris method according to claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said iris includes the steps of: detecting brightness of said object with an added optical detector; and lowering a level of said first signal as brightness of said object determined from the output of said optical sensor becomes brighter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
An auto-iris method according to claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said iris includes the steps of: detecting brightness of said object with an added optical detector; and enhancing a gain of a level of a video signal obtained from a signal output of said imaging element more as the brightness of said object determined from the output of said optical detector becomes brighter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
An auto-iris apparatus for an imaging device comprising: (1) means for detecting an amplitude of a video signal generated from a signal output from an imaging element; (2) means for comparing a detected voltage with a reference voltage; and (3) means for controlling an iris to pass a greater quantity of light to said imaging device as said detected voltage becomes higher, based on the output of said comparing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
An auto-iris apparatus for an imaging device comprising: (1) means for detecting an amplitude of a video signal generated from a signal output from an imaging element; (2) means for comparing a detected voltage with a reference voltage; and (3) means for controlling an iris to pass a greater quantity of light to said imaging device as said detected voltage becomes higher, based on the output of said comparing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An auto-iris apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for controlling said iris includes: means for detecting an aperture value of said iris; and means for enhancing said reference voltage as said aperture value becomes larger.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An auto-iris apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for controlling said iris includes: means for detecting an aperture value of said iris; and means for lowering a gain of said detected voltage as said aperture value becomes larger.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
An auto-iris apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for controlling said iris includes: means for detecting an aperture value of said iris; and means for enhancing a gain of a level of said video signal more as said aperture value becomes larger.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
An auto-iris apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for controlling said iris includes: means for detecting a color temperature from said video signal; and means for enhancing a level of said reference voltage as said color temperature becomes higher.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An auto-iris apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for controlling said iris includes: means for detecting a color temperature from said video signal; and means for lowering a level of said detected voltage as said color temperature becomes higher.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
An auto-iris apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for controlling said iris includes: means for detecting a color temperature from said video signal; and means for enhancing a gain of a level of said video signal more as said color temperature becomes higher.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
An auto-iris apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for controlling said iris includes: means for detecting brightness of said object; and means for enhancing a level of said reference voltage more as said object has more brightness.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
An auto-iris apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for controlling said iris includes: means for detecting brightness of said object; and means for lowering a level of said detected voltage as said object has more brightness.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
An auto-iris apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for controlling said iris includes: means for detecting brightness of said object; and means for enhancing a gain of a level of said video signal as said object has more brightness.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
102 words
An auto-exposure control method for an imaging device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a first signal indicating brightness of an object to be imaged; (b) obtaining a second signal corresponding to a level of a first video signal obtained from an output signal of an imaging element; (c) comparing a level of said second signal with a level of a reference signal; and (d) controlling an exposure on the basis of said first signal via said comparing step such that as said object becomes brighter, a level of a second video signal, which is outputted from said imaging device, becomes larger.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
102 words
An auto-exposure control method for an imaging device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a first signal indicating brightness of an object to be imaged; (b) obtaining a second signal corresponding to a level of a first video signal obtained from an output signal of an imaging element; (c) comparing a level of said second signal with a level of a reference signal; and (d) controlling an exposure on the basis of said first signal via said comparing step such that as said object becomes brighter, a level of a second video signal, which is outputted from said imaging device, becomes larger.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
An auto-exposure control method according to claim 21, wherein said step of controlling said exposure comprises a step of enhancing the level of said reference signal as an iris value becomes larger.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
An auto-exposure control method according to claim 21, wherein said step of controlling said exposure comprises a step of lowering the level of said second signal as an iris value becomes larger.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
An auto-exposure control method according to claim 21, wherein said step of controlling said exposure comprises a step of enhancing the level of said second video signal after said second signal is detected, as an iris value becomes larger.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
An auto-exposure control method according to claim 21, wherein said step of obtaining the first signal comprises a step of detecting a color temperature from said output signal of said imaging element, and said step of controlling said exposure comprises a step of enhancing the level of said reference signal as said color temperature increases.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
An auto-exposure control method according to claim 21, wherein said step of obtaining the first signal comprises a step of detecting a color temperature from said output signal of said imaging element, and said step of controlling said exposure comprises a step of lowering the level of said second signal as said color temperature increases.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
62 words
An auto-exposure control method according to claim 21, wherein said step of obtaining the first signal comprises a step of detecting a color temperature from said output signal of said imaging element, and said step of controlling said exposure comprises a step of enhancing the level of said second video signal after said second signal is detected, as said color temperature increases.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
56 words
An auto-exposure control method according to claim 21, wherein said step of obtaining the first signal comprises a step of detecting brightness of said object by an optical sensor, and said step of controlling said exposure comprises a step of enhancing the level of said reference signal as the brightness detected by said optical sensor increases.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
An auto-exposure control method according to claim 21, wherein said step of obtaining the first signal comprises a step of detecting brightness of said object by an optical sensor, and said step of controlling said exposure comprises a step of lowering the level of said second signal as the brightness detected by said optical sensor increases.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
63 words
An auto-exposure control method according to claim 21, wherein said step of obtaining the first signal comprises a step of detecting brightness of said object by an optical sensor, and said step of controlling said exposure comprises a step of enhancing the level of said second video signal after said second signal is detected as the brightness detected by said optical sensor increases.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
134 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus for an imaging device, comprising: (1) an iris for controlling the amount of light which reaches an imaging element; (2) means for driving said iris; (3) means for outputting a first signal indicating brightness of an object to be imaged; (4) means for outputting a second signal corresponding to a level of a first video signal obtained from an output signal of said imaging element; (5) means for comparing the level of said second signal with a reference voltage, and for outputting a signal to said means for driving said iris; and (6) means for controlling an exposure on the basis of said first signal such that as the brightness of said object increases, a level of a second video signal, which is outputted from said imaging device becomes larger.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
134 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus for an imaging device, comprising: (1) an iris for controlling the amount of light which reaches an imaging element; (2) means for driving said iris; (3) means for outputting a first signal indicating brightness of an object to be imaged; (4) means for outputting a second signal corresponding to a level of a first video signal obtained from an output signal of said imaging element; (5) means for comparing the level of said second signal with a reference voltage, and for outputting a signal to said means for driving said iris; and (6) means for controlling an exposure on the basis of said first signal such that as the brightness of said object increases, a level of a second video signal, which is outputted from said imaging device becomes larger.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for outputting said first signal comprises means for detecting an aperture value of said iris, and said means for controlling said exposure comprises means for enhancing said reference voltage as said aperture value becomes larger.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
49 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for outputting said first signal comprises means for detecting an aperture value of said iris, and said means for controlling said exposure comprises means for lowering said level of said second signal as said aperture value becomes larger.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
56 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for outputting said first signal comprises means for detecting an aperture value of said iris, and said means for controlling said exposure comprises means for enhancing said level of said second video signal after said second signal is detected, as said aperture value becomes larger.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
46 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for outputting said first signal comprises means for detecting a color temperature from said video signal, and said means for controlling said exposure comprises means for enhancing said reference voltage as said color temperature increases.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
49 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for outputting said first signal comprises means for detecting a color temperature from said video signal, and said means for controlling said exposure comprises means for lowering said level of said second signal as said color temperature increases.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
56 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for outputting said first signal comprises means for detecting a color temperature from said video signal, and said means for controlling said exposure comprises means for enhancing said level of said second video signal after said second signal is detected, as said color temperature increases.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
53 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for outputting said first signal comprises a detector for detecting brightness of said object, and said means for controlling said exposure comprises means for enhancing said reference voltage as the output of said detector represents that the brightness of said object increases.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
55 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for outputting said first signal comprises means for detecting brightness of said object, and said means for controlling said exposure comprises means for lowering said level of said second signal as the output of said detector represents that the brightness of said object increases.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
62 words
An auto-exposure controlling apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for outputting said first signal comprises means for detecting brightness of said object, and said means for controlling said exposure comprises means for enhancing said level of said second video signal after said second signal is detected, as the output of said detector represents that the brightness of said object increases.
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