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US5486861A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic camera with dual exposure and selective recording

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1994-10-20
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Granted: 1996-01-23
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Expires: 2014-10-20
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Abstract

Abstract An electronic camera having an image sensor responsive to a preliminary exposure for producing an output signal, a computing circuit for computing a proper exposure condition on the basis of the signal, and a compensating circuit for compensating the exposure value in accordance with the proper exposure condition is provided with a compensation prohibiting circuit for prohibiting the exposure compensation by the preliminary exposure by taking into account the object condition and the exposure mode.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ryosuke Miyamoto
  • 👤 Makoto Sekita
  • 👤 Shohei Takeda

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 11:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/71

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim 175 words
An image sensing device comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) light measuring means, arranged separately from said image sensing means, for detecting light coming from an object to be photographed to form first light measurement data; (c) control means for controlling an exposure condition of said image sensing means, making a first exposure on said image sensing means in accordance with said first light measurement data, and reading out an output of said image sensing means formed by the first exposure to form second light measurement data; said control means also being operable to make a second exposure on said image sensing means in accordance with said second light measurement data; and (d) recording means operating with selection of one of a first mode in which the output of said image sensing means formed by the first exposure is read out and recorded and a second mode in which the output of said image sensing means formed by the second exposure is read out and recorded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 175 words
An image sensing device comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) light measuring means, arranged separately from said image sensing means, for detecting light coming from an object to be photographed to form first light measurement data; (c) control means for controlling an exposure condition of said image sensing means, making a first exposure on said image sensing means in accordance with said first light measurement data, and reading out an output of said image sensing means formed by the first exposure to form second light measurement data; said control means also being operable to make a second exposure on said image sensing means in accordance with said second light measurement data; and (d) recording means operating with selection of one of a first mode in which the output of said image sensing means formed by the first exposure is read out and recorded and a second mode in which the output of said image sensing means formed by the second exposure is read out and recorded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to said first light measurement data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to said second light measurement data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising flash illuminating means, and wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to whether or not said flash illuminating means is rendered operative.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said recording means includes switch means for manually selecting one of the first and second modes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein said switch means operates in association with a setting member for manually setting an exposure condition for said image sensing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein said setting member includes an exposure compensating member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising memory means for reading out and temporarily storing an output signal of said image sensing means formed by the first exposure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said memory means includes a digital memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said recording means reads out and records a signal stored in the first mode in said memory means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein said control means forms said second light measurement data on the basis of a signal read out from said memory means non-destructively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 33 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to a brightness distribution of the object discriminated by said first light measurement data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 31 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to the magnitude of a level of said first light measuring data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 44 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to whether the brightness distribution of the object discriminated by said first light measurement data is a normal lighting condition or a back lighting condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to a contrast of the brightness distribution of the object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 140 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; b) first detecting means for detecting brightness of an object and for forming a first detection signal; c) control means for controlling an exposure condition of said image sensing means and causing said image sensing means to form a first electrical image signal based on said first detection signal; d) second detecting means for detecting brightness of said object based on said first electrical image signal and for forming a second detection signal, said control means causing said image sensing means to form a second electrical image signal based on said second detection signal; and e) recording means for selectively effecting a first mode for recording said first electrical image signal and a second mode for recording said second electrical image signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 140 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; b) first detecting means for detecting brightness of an object and for forming a first detection signal; c) control means for controlling an exposure condition of said image sensing means and causing said image sensing means to form a first electrical image signal based on said first detection signal; d) second detecting means for detecting brightness of said object based on said first electrical image signal and for forming a second detection signal, said control means causing said image sensing means to form a second electrical image signal based on said second detection signal; and e) recording means for selectively effecting a first mode for recording said first electrical image signal and a second mode for recording said second electrical image signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first detecting means is arranged separately from said image sensing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said second detecting means includes integration means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising selection means for manually selecting said first electrical image signal and said second electrical image signal for recording.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to said first detection signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to said second detection signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising flash illuminating means, and wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to whether or not said flash illuminating means is rendered operative.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording means includes switch means for manually selecting one of the first and second modes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said switch means operates in association with a setting member for manually setting an exposure condition for said image sensing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 15 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said setting member includes an exposure compensating member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising memory means for reading out and temporarily storing the first electrical image signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said memory means includes a digital memory.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said recording means reads out and records a signal stored in the first mode in said memory means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 29 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said second detecting means forms said second detection signal on the basis of a signal read out from said memory means non-destructively.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 32 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to a brightness distribution of the object discriminated by said first detection signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 30 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to the magnitude of a level of said first detection signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 44 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to whether the brightness distribution of the object discriminated by said first light measurement data is a normal lighting condition or a back lighting condition.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 29 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said recording means selects one of the first and second modes according to a contrast of the brightness distribution of the object.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4714966A Cited
US4584610A Cited
US4689689A Cited
US4647975A Cited
US5101276A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-01-22 1999-07-24 2000-01-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-01-22 2003-07-24 2004-01-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-01-22 2007-07-24 2008-01-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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