US5347371A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video camera with extraction unit for extracting specific portion of video signal
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1992-09-03
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Granted: 1994-09-13
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Expires: 2012-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A video camera for enabling improvement in automatic functions such as automatic white balancing and automatic focusing while controlling picture quality of a video image including a specific object of the video image and/or background thereof. The video camera includes an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output. An extraction unit is provided for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of the video signal of the signal processing circuit, and a control unit responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction unit effects control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in accordance therewith, thereby providing improvement in the picture quality.
Inventors
- 👤 Ryuji Nishimura
- 👤 Akihito Nishizawa
- 👤 Mayuko Yamamoto
- 👤 Takuya Imaide
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/2621; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/665; H04N23/70; H04N23/749; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N23/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of a target object of the video signal of the signal processing circuit irrespective of movement of the target object within the picked up image; and control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for effecting control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in accordance therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of a target object of the video signal of the signal processing circuit irrespective of movement of the target object within the picked up image; and control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for effecting control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in accordance therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A video camera according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing circuit includes signal processing parameter means for controlling parameters of the processed video signal including at least one of degree of sharpness, frequency characteristic, signal level, white balance, degree of saturation and hue of a color signal thereof, the control means controlling the signal processing parameter means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A video camera according to claim 1, wherein the at least one input control parameter of the video camera includes a parameter of at least one of focusing means, shutter means of an electronic shutter, a value of a stop, an iris characteristic, or a zoom ratio, the control means controlling the at least one input control parameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A video camera according to claim 2, further comprising recognition means for recognizing the specific portion from the specific portion signal extracted by the extraction means, the control means being responsive to the recognition means for effecting control in accordance therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A video camera according to claim 4, further comprising output means for outputting a result of recognition of the recognition means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A video camera according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the output means and the recognition means includes means for encoding the result of recognition and the output means includes means for superposing the encoded result of recognition on the video signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A video camera according to claim 6, wherein the output means output the result of recognition in the form of voice information on the video signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A video camera according to claim 4, wherein the at least one input control parameter of the video camera includes a parameter of at least one of focusing means, shutter means of an electronic shutter, a value of a stop, an iris characteristic, or a zoom ratio, the control means controlling the at least one input control parameter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A video camera according to claim 8, further comprising recognition means for recognizing the specific portion from the specific portion signal extracted by the extraction means, the control means being responsive to the recognition means for effecting control in accordance therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A video camera according to claim 9, further comprising output means for outputting a result of recognition of the recognition means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A video camera according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the output means and the recognition means includes means for encoding the result of recognition and the output means includes means for superposing the encoded result of recognition on the video signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A video camera according to claim 11, wherein the output means output the result of recognition in the form of voice information on the video signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A video camera according to claim 1, wherein the extraction means extracts the specific portion of the target object by distinguishing the area on which the video signal coincides with a predetermined condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
136 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of the video signal of the signal processing circuit; and control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for effecting control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in accordance therewith; wherein the control means effects control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera for a remaining portion of the video signal which is not extracted by the extracting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of the video signal of the signal processing circuit; and control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for effecting control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in accordance therewith; wherein the control means effects control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera for a remaining portion of the video signal which is not extracted by the extracting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
A video camera according to claim 14, wherein the control means effects control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in response to the signal extracted by the extraction means and effects a different control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera for the remaining portion of the video signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
126 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a single processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of the video signal of the signal processing circuit; control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for effecting control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in accordance therewith; and recognition means for recognizing the specific portion from the specific portion signal extracted by the extraction means, the control means being responsive to the recognition means for effecting control in accordance therewith.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
126 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a single processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of the video signal of the signal processing circuit; control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for effecting control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in accordance therewith; and recognition means for recognizing the specific portion from the specific portion signal extracted by the extraction means, the control means being responsive to the recognition means for effecting control in accordance therewith.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A video camera according to claim 16, further comprising output means for outputting a result of recognition of the recognition means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A video camera according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the output means and the recognition means includes means for encoding the result of recognition and the output means includes means for superposing the encoded result of recognition on the video signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A video camera according to claim 18, wherein the output means output the result of recognition in the form of voice information on the video signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
129 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of a target object of the video signal of the signal processing circuit and for automatically following the target object to extract the signal representative of the specific portion when the target object moves within the picked up image; and control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for effecting control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in accordance therewith.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
129 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of a target object of the video signal of the signal processing circuit and for automatically following the target object to extract the signal representative of the specific portion when the target object moves within the picked up image; and control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for effecting control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in accordance therewith.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
84 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of the video signal of the signal processing circuit; and control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for effecting control of at least a zoom control of the video camera in accordance therewith.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of the video signal of the signal processing circuit; and control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for effecting control of at least a zoom control of the video camera in accordance therewith.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
104 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of a target object of the video signal of the signal processing circuit; and control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for controlling at least the signal processing circuit to modify at least one of a frequency characteristic, color, brightness, gain and size of the target object in accordance with the extracted signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
104 words
A video camera comprising: means including an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output; extraction means for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of a target object of the video signal of the signal processing circuit; and control means responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction means for controlling at least the signal processing circuit to modify at least one of a frequency characteristic, color, brightness, gain and size of the target object in accordance with the extracted signal.
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) | 1997-09-12 | 1998-03-14 | 1998-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-12 | 2002-03-14 | 2002-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-12 | 2006-03-14 | 2006-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |