US5485004A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photosensor device including means for designating a plurality of pixel blocks of any desired size
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-05-02
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Granted: 1996-01-16
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Expires: 2015-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A photoelectric sensor device has a two-dimensional arrangement of a multiplicity of unit structures each including a pixel. The sensor device includes a circuit for simultaneously designating a plurality of pixel blocks of any desired sizes at any desired positions on the two dimensional arrangement of unit structures, each pixel block being composed of pixels which are to be actually used. The sensor device also includes a monitor output circuit for outputting, for each of the pixel blocks, at least one monitor output as the representative of the amounts of charges accumulated in the pixels in each of the pixel blocks. The sensor device further includes a circuit which executes the control of accumulation of charges and the control of outputting of the image signals on each of the pixel blocks independently of other pixel blocks. Disclosed also is a focus detection system using the sensor device.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenji Suzuki
- 👤 Mamoru Miyawaki
- 👤 Akira Akashi
- 👤 Toshiki Nakayama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/34; G02B7/346; H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/70; H04N25/703; H04N25/704; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/15; H10F39/18; H10F39/182; H10F39/1825
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a two-dimensional image sensor for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; optical means for impinging at least two different optical images on said image sensor; designating means for variable designating areas within said two-dimensional image sensor, each of said areas receiving one of the at least two different optical images, respectively; and processing means for processing said electrical signal from said two-dimensional image sensor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a two-dimensional image sensor for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; optical means for impinging at least two different optical images on said image sensor; designating means for variable designating areas within said two-dimensional image sensor, each of said areas receiving one of the at least two different optical images, respectively; and processing means for processing said electrical signal from said two-dimensional image sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said at least two optical images are images at different positions of the same object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said different positions are parallel to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said processing means performs a correlation operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said processing means performs a comparison operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling a focusing operation of said optical means according to an output of said processing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a two-dimensional image sensor for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; optical means for impinging at least two different optical images on said image sensor; designating means for variably designating areas within said two-dimensional image sensor, each of said areas receiving one of the at least two different optical images, respectively; and comparing means for comparing electrical signals corresponding to the at least two different optical images.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a two-dimensional image sensor for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; optical means for impinging at least two different optical images on said image sensor; designating means for variably designating areas within said two-dimensional image sensor, each of said areas receiving one of the at least two different optical images, respectively; and comparing means for comparing electrical signals corresponding to the at least two different optical images.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said at least two optical images are images at different positions of the same object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus to claim 8, wherein said different positions are parallel to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said comparing means performs a correlation operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a two-dimensional image sensor having a two-dimensional image sensing surface; optical means for forming at least two images on said two-dimensional image sensing surface; and designating means for variably designating areas within said two-dimensional image sensing surface, each of said areas receiving one of the at least two optical images, respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a two-dimensional image sensor having a two-dimensional image sensing surface; optical means for forming at least two images on said two-dimensional image sensing surface; and designating means for variably designating areas within said two-dimensional image sensing surface, each of said areas receiving one of the at least two optical images, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising adding means for adding information formed in each of said areas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said optical means forms at least two different images on said two-dimensional image sensing surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least two different images are images at different positions of the same object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising processing means for processing outputs of said two-dimensional image sensor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processing means compares outputs from said areas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processing means performs a correlation operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processing means produces a level detecting signal based on outputs from said areas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said processing means produces a peak level detecting signal based on outputs from said areas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said processing means produces a distance measuring signal based on outputs from said areas.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
70 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: two-dimensional image sensing means for converting optical images into electrical images; optical means for forming at least two optical images on said two-dimensional image sensing means; designating means for designating areas within said two-dimensional image sensing means, each of said areas receiving one of the at least two optical images, respectively; and processing means for detecting a luminance level based on outputs from said areas.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: two-dimensional image sensing means for converting optical images into electrical images; optical means for forming at least two optical images on said two-dimensional image sensing means; designating means for designating areas within said two-dimensional image sensing means, each of said areas receiving one of the at least two optical images, respectively; and processing means for detecting a luminance level based on outputs from said areas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said optical means forms at least two different optical images on said two-dimensional image sensing surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing means compares outputs from said areas.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said designating means variably designates the areas within said two-dimensional image sensing means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing means produces a distance measuring signal based on outputs from said areas.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing means performs a correlation operation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said at two different optical images are images at different positions of the same object.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising adding means for adding information from each of said areas.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing means detects a peak level based on outputs from said areas.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
68 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: two-dimensional image sensing means for converting optical images into electrical images; optical means for forming at least two optical images on said two-dimensional image sensing means; designating means for designating areas within said two-dimensional image sensing means, each of said areas receiving one of the at least two optical images, respectively; and adding means for adding information formed in each of said areas.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
68 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: two-dimensional image sensing means for converting optical images into electrical images; optical means for forming at least two optical images on said two-dimensional image sensing means; designating means for designating areas within said two-dimensional image sensing means, each of said areas receiving one of the at least two optical images, respectively; and adding means for adding information formed in each of said areas.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said optical means forms at least two different optical images on said two-dimensional image sensing surface.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said at least two optical images are images at different positions of the same object.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising processing means for processing outputs of said two-dimensional image sensor.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said processing means compares outputs from said areas.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said processing means produces a distance measuring signal based on outputs from said areas.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said processing means performs a correlation operation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said processing means produces a level detecting signal based on outputs from said areas.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said processing means produces a peak level detecting signal based on outputs from said areas.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising control means for controlling said adding means based on said level detecting signal.
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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) | 1999-01-15 | 1999-07-17 | 2000-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-15 | 2003-07-17 | 2004-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-15 | 2007-07-17 | 2008-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |