US5349415A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photographic optical system controlling apparatus
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1992-10-30
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Granted: 1994-09-20
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Expires: 2012-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A photographic optical system controlling apparatus for carrying out an automatic focusing control and an exposure control. The apparatus comprises a motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of the image and changes a gate area or a photometric area. The result is that the focusing or the exposure controlling operation can be carried out accurately following the motion of a main object, irrespective of the positional change of the object the screen.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiro Nishida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/67; H04N23/675; G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/20; H04N23/70; H04N23/71; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/265; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N23/635; H04N23/673
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for controlling exposure in an optical system based on an image signal obtained at a photometric area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image in a motion vector detecting area from the correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; (b) photometric area controlling means for detecting the motion of a main object from the output of said motion vector detecting means, and for controlling this photometric area to follow the motion of the main object; (c) judging means for judging if the main object occupies a part or the majority of the screen; (d) area changing means, responsive to said judging means, for changing the motion vector detecting area and the photometric area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for controlling exposure in an optical system based on an image signal obtained at a photometric area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image in a motion vector detecting area from the correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; (b) photometric area controlling means for detecting the motion of a main object from the output of said motion vector detecting means, and for controlling this photometric area to follow the motion of the main object; (c) judging means for judging if the main object occupies a part or the majority of the screen; (d) area changing means, responsive to said judging means, for changing the motion vector detecting area and the photometric area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: (e) photometric superimposing means for superimposing a moveable photometric area on the image signal and displaying the superimposed signal; and (f) photometric designating means for allowing manual shifting of the moveable photometric area by a user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the photometric designating means is a rollerball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the photometric designating means is a joystick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the photometric area designating means includes a plurality of directional key switches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the photometric area designating means is a rollerball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the photometric area designating means is a joystick.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: (e) means for controlling exposure based on light intensity information in the photometric area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for controlling exposure in an optical system based on an image signal obtained at a photometric area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image from the correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; and (b) photometric area controlling means for detecting the motion of a main object from the output of said motion vector detecting means, and for moving the photometric area to follow the motion of the main object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for controlling exposure in an optical system based on an image signal obtained at a photometric area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image from the correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; and (b) photometric area controlling means for detecting the motion of a main object from the output of said motion vector detecting means, and for moving the photometric area to follow the motion of the main object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: (c) means for controlling exposure based on light intensity information in the photometric area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for controlling exposure in an optical system based on an image signal obtained at a photometric area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image from the correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; (b) photometric area controlling means for detecting the motion of a main object from the output of said motion vector detecting means, and for moving the photometric area to follow the motion of the main object; and (c) photometric area designating means for designating the photometric area in accordance with the main object to be followed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for controlling exposure in an optical system based on an image signal obtained at a photometric area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image from the correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; (b) photometric area controlling means for detecting the motion of a main object from the output of said motion vector detecting means, and for moving the photometric area to follow the motion of the main object; and (c) photometric area designating means for designating the photometric area in accordance with the main object to be followed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
108 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for controlling exposure in an optical system based on an image signal obtained at a photometric area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image from the correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; (b) photometric area controlling means for detecting the motion of a main object from the output of said motion vector detecting means, and for moving the photometric area to follow the motion of the main object; and (c) photometric area superimposing means for superimposing the photometric area on the image signal, and displaying the superimposed signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for controlling exposure in an optical system based on an image signal obtained at a photometric area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion of an image from the correlation of two time continuous frames of image data; (b) photometric area controlling means for detecting the motion of a main object from the output of said motion vector detecting means, and for moving the photometric area to follow the motion of the main object; and (c) photometric area superimposing means for superimposing the photometric area on the image signal, and displaying the superimposed signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
104 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for automatically controlling exposure in an optical system on the basis of image signals obtained in a photometric area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting motion of an image by correlating pixel density values of two time continuous frames of image data and accumulatively adding the correlated pixel density values to create a motion vector; and (b) photometric area controlling means for detecting the motion of a main object from the motion vector and for controlling the movement of the photometric area to follow the detected motion of the main object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
An exposure controlling apparatus for automatically controlling exposure in an optical system on the basis of image signals obtained in a photometric area designated on a photographic screen, said apparatus comprising: (a) motion vector detecting means for detecting motion of an image by correlating pixel density values of two time continuous frames of image data and accumulatively adding the correlated pixel density values to create a motion vector; and (b) photometric area controlling means for detecting the motion of a main object from the motion vector and for controlling the movement of the photometric area to follow the detected motion of the main object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The exposure controlling of claim 13, further comprising: (c) photometric area designating means for designating the photometric area in accordance with the main object to be followed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: (c) photometric superimposing means for superimposing the photometric area on the image signal, and displaying the superimposed signal; and (d) photometric area designating means for allowing manual shifting of the photometric area by a user.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
112 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: (c) judging means for judging the main object as occupying one of a part and a majority of the screen; and (d) area changing means for varying the area in which the motion vector is detected in accordance with contents of the image so as to detect the motion vector from the image of the entire screen when the main object is judged to occupy the majority of the screen, and from only a portion of the image in a vicinity of the parametric area when the main object is judged to occupy only a part of the screen less than a majority.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 15, wherein the photometric designating means includes a plurality of directional key switches.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 15, wherein the photometric designating means is a rollerball.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 15, wherein the photometric designating means is a joystick.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: (e) photometric superimposing means for superimposing a moveable photometric area on the image signal and displaying the superimposed signal; and (f) photometric designating means for allowing manual shifting of the moveable photometric area by a user.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the photometric designating means includes a plurality of directional key switches.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the photometric designating means is a rollerball.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the photometric designating means is a joystick.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 14, wherein the photometric area designating means includes a plurality of directional key switches.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 14, wherein the photometric area designating means is a rollerball.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 14, wherein said photometric area designating means is a joystick.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: (c) means for controlling exposure based on light intensity information in the photometric area.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: (e) means for controlling exposure based on light intensity information in the photometric area.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: (e) means for controlling exposure based on light intensity information in the photometric area.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The exposure controlling apparatus of claim 25, wherein the photometric designating means includes a plurality of directional key switches.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a photographic instrument, a method for controlling exposure of an image, comprising: (a) measuring light intensity of each of a plurality of image areas selected from said image; (b) determining an average value of light intensity of the measured light intensities of a sub-group of image areas selected from said plurality of image areas; (c) determining the percentage of image areas of said plurality of image areas which fall within a continuous range of light intensities, said range including said average value; (d) controlling exposure in said photographic instrument in response to the determined percentage.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a photographic instrument, a method for controlling exposure of an image, comprising: (a) measuring light intensity of each of a plurality of image areas selected from said image; (b) determining an average value of light intensity of the measured light intensities of a sub-group of image areas selected from said plurality of image areas; (c) determining the percentage of image areas of said plurality of image areas which fall within a continuous range of light intensities, said range including said average value; (d) controlling exposure in said photographic instrument in response to the determined percentage.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method for controlling exposure of claim 31, wherein step (a) measures the light intensity of image areas evenly distributed across the entire image.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for controlling exposure of claim 31 wherein step (b) determines the average value of light intensity of a sub-group of image areas bound within a single changeable area on the image.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for controlling exposure of claim 33 further comprising: (e) changing the single changeable area in response to an object detected on said photographic screen.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for controlling exposure of claim 34 wherein step (e) changes the single changeable area to follow and include at least part of said object.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method for controlling exposure of claim 31 wherein step (c) determines a percentage of image areas of said plurality of image ares which equal said average value of light intensity plus or minus a second value.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method for controlling exposure of claim 31 wherein said step (d) controls exposure as a function of the light intensities of each of the plurality of image areas or as a function of each of the light intensities of the image areas of said sub-group of image areas in response to the determined percentage.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method for controlling exposure of claim 31 wherein step (d) includes: (d1) controlling exposure as a function of light intensities of said plurality of image areas evenly distributed across the entire image when said percentage determined in step (c) is greater than a predetermined threshold; and (d2) controlling exposure as a function of light intensities of said sub-group of image areas when said percentage determined in step (c) is less than said predetermined threshold.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for controlling exposure of claim 31 wherein said step (a) measures light intensities of each of a plurality of pixels selected from said image.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-19 | 1998-03-21 | 1998-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-19 | 2002-03-21 | 2002-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-19 | 2006-03-21 | 2006-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |