US5442397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image sensing apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-18
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Granted: 1995-08-15
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Expires: 2014-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An image sensing apparatus operating with adaptive selection of a first tracing algorithm in which an object image is traced by moving a detecting area capable of being movably set on an image sensing plane in such a manner that the luminance level difference between the inside and the outside of that area becomes maximum and a second tracing algorithm in which the object image is traced by moving the position of the detecting area in such a manner that a point at which a contrast becomes maximum comes to coincide with a central portion of the detecting are depending on the state of the image sensing plane. The threshold values for changing over between the first tracing algorithm and the second tracing algorithm are made to have a hysteresis characteristic.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsuji Yoshimura
- 👤 Masamichi Toyama
- 👤 Akihiro Fujiwara
- 👤 Hirofumi Suda
- 👤 Kunihiko Yamada
- 👤 Kitahiro Kaneda
- 👤 Hideo Homma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/36; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/67; H04N23/673; H04N23/675; H04N23/70; H04N23/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An object tracing device for tracing an object image on an image sensing plane, comprising: (A) setting means for movably setting a detecting area on said image sensing plane; (B) first object tracing means, having means for respectively detecting luminance level between the inside and outside of said detecting area, for controlling said setting means to vary a set position of said detecting area on said image sensing plane so that the difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area becomes greater; (C) second object tracing means for controlling said setting means to vary the set position of said detecting area on said image sensing plane so that a position at which a contrast on said image sensing plane becomes maximum coincides with a central portion of said detecting area; and (D) control means for selectively operating one of said first object tracing means and said second object tracing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
An object tracing device for tracing an object image on an image sensing plane, comprising: (A) setting means for movably setting a detecting area on said image sensing plane; (B) first object tracing means, having means for respectively detecting luminance level between the inside and outside of said detecting area, for controlling said setting means to vary a set position of said detecting area on said image sensing plane so that the difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area becomes greater; (C) second object tracing means for controlling said setting means to vary the set position of said detecting area on said image sensing plane so that a position at which a contrast on said image sensing plane becomes maximum coincides with a central portion of said detecting area; and (D) control means for selectively operating one of said first object tracing means and said second object tracing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said first object tracing means sets said detecting area to a position at which the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area becomes maximum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said first object tracing means controls said setting means to perform such a wobbling that said detecting area is shifted upward, downward, to the left and to the right in units of a predetermined distance repeatedly, to control said setting means to move said detecting area to the set position where the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area becomes maximum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein said first object tracing means includes gate circuits for extracting the respective image signals corresponding to the inside and the outside of said detecting area, integration circuits for integrating the respective image signals output from said gate circuits, correction circuits for correcting the error caused on the basis of the difference in area between the inside and the outside of said detecting area so as to normalize the integrated value output from said correction circuits, and a subtracting circuit for obtaining the difference between outputs of said correction circuits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said second object tracing means sets the position of said detecting area so that a position where a contrast on said detecting area becomes maximum coincides with a central portion of said detecting area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein said second object tracing means includes horizontal peak-value/peak-position detecting means having a sample-and-hold circuit in holding a peak value in every one horizontal scanning in said detecting area and a counter for detecting a position at which said peak value is detected in said one horizontal scanning, and vertical peak-value/peak-position detecting means having a sample-and-hold circuit for holding a peak value in every one vertical scanning in said detecting area and a counter for detecting a position at which said peak value is detected in said one vertical scanning.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means selects one of said first and said second object tracing means in accordance with a state of said image sensing plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A device according to claim 7, further comprising integration means for integrating luminance signal components corresponding to the inside and the outside of said detecting area, and wherein said control means, responsive to a difference in integrated luminance level integrated by said integration means between the inside and the outside of said detecting area, adaptively selects one of said first object tracing means and said second object tracing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said control means selects said first object tracing means when the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area is larger than a predetermined value, and selects said second object tracing means when said difference in average luminance level is not larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising focus detecting means for detecting the degree of focus to the object image on the basis of an image signal corresponding to the inside of said detecting area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein said focus detecting means detects the degree of focus on the basis of the quantity of a high-frequency component in said image signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
205 words
An object tracing type automatic focusing device for keeping an object image in an in-focus state by tracing the object image on an image sensing plane, comprising: (A) means for movably setting a focus detecting area on said image sensing plane; (B) setting means for movably setting an object tracing area on said image sensing plane; (C) first object tracing means, having means for respectively detecting luminance level between the inside and outside of said object tracing area , for controlling said setting means to vary a set position of said object tracing area on said image sensing plane so that the difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of said object tracing area becomes greater; (D) second object tracing means for controlling said setting means to vary the set position of said object tracing area on said image sensing plane so that a position at which a contrast on said image sensing plane becomes maximum coincides with a central portion of said object tracing area; (E) control means for selectively operating one of said first object tracing means and said second object tracing means; and (F) means for setting said focus detecting area to a position in said object tracing area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
205 words
An object tracing type automatic focusing device for keeping an object image in an in-focus state by tracing the object image on an image sensing plane, comprising: (A) means for movably setting a focus detecting area on said image sensing plane; (B) setting means for movably setting an object tracing area on said image sensing plane; (C) first object tracing means, having means for respectively detecting luminance level between the inside and outside of said object tracing area , for controlling said setting means to vary a set position of said object tracing area on said image sensing plane so that the difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of said object tracing area becomes greater; (D) second object tracing means for controlling said setting means to vary the set position of said object tracing area on said image sensing plane so that a position at which a contrast on said image sensing plane becomes maximum coincides with a central portion of said object tracing area; (E) control means for selectively operating one of said first object tracing means and said second object tracing means; and (F) means for setting said focus detecting area to a position in said object tracing area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said object tracing area serves also as said focus detecting area.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said first object tracing means sets said object tracing area to a position at which the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said object tracing area becomes maximum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein said first object tracing means controls said setting means to perform such a wobbling that said object tracing area is shifted upward, downward, to the right, to the left in units of a predetermined distance repeatedly, and to move said object tracing area to the shifting position at which the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said object tracing area becomes maximum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
98 words
A device according to claim 15, wherein said first object tracing means includes gate circuits for extracting the respective image signals corresponding to the inside and the outside of said object tracing area, integrating circuits for integrating the respective image signals output from said gate circuits, correction circuits for correcting the error caused on the basis of the difference in area between the inside and the outside of said object tracing area so as to normalize the integrated value output from said correction circuits, and a subtracting circuit for obtaining the difference between outputs of said correction circuits.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said second object tracing means sets the position of said object tracing area so that a position at which a contrast on said object tracing area becomes maximum coincides with a central portion of said object tracing area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
98 words
A device according to claim 17, wherein said second object tracing means includes horizontal peak-value/peak-position detecting means having a sample-and-hold circuit for holding a peak value in every one horizontal scanning in said object tracing area and a counter for detecting a position at which said peak value is detected in said one horizontal scanning, and vertical peak-value/peak-position detecting means having a sample-and-hold circuit for holding a peak value in every one vertical scanning in said object tracing area and a counter for detecting a position at which said peak value is detected in said one vertical scanning.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said control means selects one of said first and said second object tracing means in accordance with a state of said image sensing plane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein said first object tracking means has integration circuits for respectively detecting average luminance level of the inside and outside of said object tracing area, and said control means adaptively selects one of said first object tracing means and said second object tracing means in response to a difference in integrated luminance level between the inside and the outside of said object tracing area integrated by said integration circuits.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein said control means selects said first object tracing means when the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said object tracing area is larger than a predetermined value, and selects said second object tracing means when said difference in average luminance level is not larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
151 words
An automatic focusing device for focusing on an object image on an image sensing plane by tracing the object image, comprising: (A) focus detecting means for detecting an in focus state on the basis of an image signal corresponding to a focus detecting area set on said image sensing plane; (B) first area setting means for varying the position of said set focus detecting area on said image sensing plane so that the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said focus detecting area becomes larger; (C) second area setting means for varying the position of said set focus detecting area on said image sensing plane so that a contrast of a central portion of said focus detecting area on said image sensing plane becomes maximum; and (D) control means for selectively operating one of said first area setting means and said second area setting means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
151 words
An automatic focusing device for focusing on an object image on an image sensing plane by tracing the object image, comprising: (A) focus detecting means for detecting an in focus state on the basis of an image signal corresponding to a focus detecting area set on said image sensing plane; (B) first area setting means for varying the position of said set focus detecting area on said image sensing plane so that the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said focus detecting area becomes larger; (C) second area setting means for varying the position of said set focus detecting area on said image sensing plane so that a contrast of a central portion of said focus detecting area on said image sensing plane becomes maximum; and (D) control means for selectively operating one of said first area setting means and said second area setting means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 22, wherein said first area setting means sets said focus detecting area so that the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said focus detecting area becomes maximum.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 22, wherein said control means selects one of said first and said second area setting means in accordance with a state of said image sensing plane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device according to claim 24, wherein said control means selects said first area setting means when the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said focus detecting area is larger than a predetermined value, and selects said second area setting means when said difference in average luminance level is not larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
169 words
An object tracing device for tracing an object image on an image sensing plane, comprising: (A) first object tracing means for varying a set position of a detecting area on said image sensing plane so that the difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area becomes larger; (B) second object tracing means for varying the set position of said detecting area on said image sensing plane so that a contrast of a central portion of said detecting area on said image sensing plane becomes maximum; and (C) control means for selectively operating one of said first object tracing means and said second object tracing means, wherein; a selecting operation of said control means has a hysteresis characteristic in which a threshold value at which a selection is changed from said first object tracing means to said second object tracing means differs from a threshold value at which a selection is changed from said second object tracing means to said first object tracing means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
169 words
An object tracing device for tracing an object image on an image sensing plane, comprising: (A) first object tracing means for varying a set position of a detecting area on said image sensing plane so that the difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area becomes larger; (B) second object tracing means for varying the set position of said detecting area on said image sensing plane so that a contrast of a central portion of said detecting area on said image sensing plane becomes maximum; and (C) control means for selectively operating one of said first object tracing means and said second object tracing means, wherein; a selecting operation of said control means has a hysteresis characteristic in which a threshold value at which a selection is changed from said first object tracing means to said second object tracing means differs from a threshold value at which a selection is changed from said second object tracing means to said first object tracing means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 26, wherein said first object tracing means sets said detecting area so that the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area becomes maximum.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
76 words
A device according to claim 27, wherein said first object tracing means controls said setting means to perform such a wobbling that said detecting area is shifted upward, downward, to the left and to the right in units of a predetermined distance repeatedly, and to move said detecting area to the position of said detecting area at which the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area becomes maximum.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
89 words
A device according to claim 28, wherein said first object tracing means includes gate circuits for extracting the respective image signals corresponding to the inside and the outside of said detecting area, integration circuits for integrating the respective image signals output from said gate circuits, area correction circuits for correcting the difference in area between the inside and the outside of said detecting area with respect to integrated values output from said integration circuits, and a subtracting circuit for obtaining the difference between outputs of said area correction circuits.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 26, wherein said second object tracing means sets the position of said detecting area so that a contrast of a central portion of said detecting area on said image sensing plane becomes maximum.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
96 words
A device according to claim 30, wherein said second object tracing means includes horizontal peak-value/peak-position detecting means having a sample-and-hold circuit for holding a peak value in every one horizontal scanning in said detecting area and a counter for detecting a position at which said peak value is detected in said one horizontal scanning, and vertical peak-value/peak-position detecting means having a sample-and-hold circuit for holding a peak value in every one vertical scanning in said detecting area and a counter for detecting a position at which said peak value is detected in said one vertical scanning.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 26, wherein said control means, responsive to the difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area, adaptively selects one of said first object tracing means and said second object tracing means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device according to claim 32, wherein said control means selects said first object tracing means when the difference in average luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area is larger than a predetermined value, and selects said second object tracing means when said difference in average luminance level is not larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 33, further comprising focus detecting means for detecting a degree of focus to of said object image on the basis of a high frequency component of an image signal corresponding to the inside of said detecting area.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
120 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (A) first tracing means for detecting a feature of an image on an image sensing plane and for tracing a motion of said feature; (B) second tracing means for detecting a feature of said image having a different detection characteristic from that of said first tracing means; and (C) control means for selectively operating one of said first tracing means and said second tracing means in accordance with a detecting condition of the image on said image sensing plane on the basis of detecting information of said first or second tracing means, in which a selecting operation of said control means has a hysteresis characteristic in changing operation between said first and second tracing means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
120 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: (A) first tracing means for detecting a feature of an image on an image sensing plane and for tracing a motion of said feature; (B) second tracing means for detecting a feature of said image having a different detection characteristic from that of said first tracing means; and (C) control means for selectively operating one of said first tracing means and said second tracing means in accordance with a detecting condition of the image on said image sensing plane on the basis of detecting information of said first or second tracing means, in which a selecting operation of said control means has a hysteresis characteristic in changing operation between said first and second tracing means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
75 words
An apparatus according to claim 35, said first tracing means detects said feature and traces said feature in a first detecting area so that a difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of the first detecting area becomes maximum, and wherein said second tracing means detects said feature and traces said feature in a second detecting area so that a contrast of a central portion of said second detecting area becomes maximum.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said control means selects one of said first and said second tracing means in accordance with the difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of said second detecting area.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 37 in which said first and second detecting areas are common with said detecting area.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said detecting area is a focus detecting area.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said detecting area is a light measuring area.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
137 words
An automatic focus detecting device, comprising: (A) image sensing means for sensing an object image formed on an image sensing plane and for photo-electrically converting said object image into an image signal and outputting said image signal; (B) focus detecting means for extracting a predetermined signal component varying according to a focus condition from the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set on said image sensing plane; and (C) detecting area setting means having a first mode for setting said detecting area on said image sensing plane on the basis of a first algorithm and having a second mode for setting said detecting area on the basis of a second algorithm different from said first algorithm wherein said detecting area setting means has a hysteresis characteristic in the changing operation between said first and second modes.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
137 words
An automatic focus detecting device, comprising: (A) image sensing means for sensing an object image formed on an image sensing plane and for photo-electrically converting said object image into an image signal and outputting said image signal; (B) focus detecting means for extracting a predetermined signal component varying according to a focus condition from the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set on said image sensing plane; and (C) detecting area setting means having a first mode for setting said detecting area on said image sensing plane on the basis of a first algorithm and having a second mode for setting said detecting area on the basis of a second algorithm different from said first algorithm wherein said detecting area setting means has a hysteresis characteristic in the changing operation between said first and second modes.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device according to claim 41, wherein said detecting area setting means includes level detecting means for detecting an average luminance level inside and outside of said detecting area and wherein said detecting area is set at a position where a difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area detected by said level detecting means in said first mode becomes maximum.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device according to claim 41, wherein said detecting area setting means includes peak detecting means for detecting a peak value of a high frequency component in said image signal corresponding to said detecting area, and said detecting area is set at a peak detecting position detected by said peak detecting means in said second mode.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
111 words
An automatic exposure control device, comprising: (A) image sensing means for sensing an object image formed on an image sensing plane and for photo-electrically converting said object image into an image signal and outputting said image signal; (B) exposure detecting means for extracting a predetermined signal component according to an exposure condition from the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set on said image sensing plane; and (C) detecting area setting means having a first mode for setting said detecting area on said image sensing plane according to a first algorithm and a second mode for setting said detecting area according to a second algorithm different from said first algorithm.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
111 words
An automatic exposure control device, comprising: (A) image sensing means for sensing an object image formed on an image sensing plane and for photo-electrically converting said object image into an image signal and outputting said image signal; (B) exposure detecting means for extracting a predetermined signal component according to an exposure condition from the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set on said image sensing plane; and (C) detecting area setting means having a first mode for setting said detecting area on said image sensing plane according to a first algorithm and a second mode for setting said detecting area according to a second algorithm different from said first algorithm.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 44, wherein said detecting area setting means has a hysteresis characteristic in the changing operation between said first mode and said second mode.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device according to claim 45, wherein said detecting area setting means includes level detecting means for detecting an average luminance level inside and outside of said detecting area and wherein said detecting area is set at a position where a difference in luminance level between the inside and the outside of said detecting area detected by said level detecting means in said first mode becomes maximum.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device according to claim 45, wherein said detecting area setting means includes peak detecting means for detecting a peak value of a high frequency component in said image signal corresponding to said detecting area, and said detecting area is set at a peak detecting position detected by said peak detecting means in said second mode.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
129 words
A video camera device comprising: (A) image sensing means for sensing an object image formed on an image sensing plane and for photo-electrically converting said object image into an image signal and outputting said image signal; (B) detecting means for extracting a predetermined signal component according to a photographing condition from the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set on said image sensing plane; and (C) detecting area setting means having a first mode for setting said detecting area on said image sensing plane according to a first algorithm and a second mode for setting said detecting area according to a second algorithm different from said first algorithm, said detecting area setting means having a hysteresis characteristic in changing operation between said first mode and said second mode.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
129 words
A video camera device comprising: (A) image sensing means for sensing an object image formed on an image sensing plane and for photo-electrically converting said object image into an image signal and outputting said image signal; (B) detecting means for extracting a predetermined signal component according to a photographing condition from the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set on said image sensing plane; and (C) detecting area setting means having a first mode for setting said detecting area on said image sensing plane according to a first algorithm and a second mode for setting said detecting area according to a second algorithm different from said first algorithm, said detecting area setting means having a hysteresis characteristic in changing operation between said first mode and said second mode.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 48, wherein said detecting area is a focus detecting area.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 49, wherein said detecting area is an exposure detecting area.
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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) | 1998-08-14 | 1999-02-13 | 1999-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-14 | 2003-02-13 | 2003-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-14 | 2007-02-13 | 2007-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |