US5585844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image sensing apparatus having common circuitry for processing digital adjustment signals
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-03-23
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Granted: 1996-12-17
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Expires: 2015-03-23
Abstract
Abstract An image sensing apparatus includes: a signal processing circuit for processing image sensing signals; a plurality of adjustment signal generating circuits for generating mutually different output signals for automatic adjustment by using part of the signals of the signal processing circuit; an interface for receiving the output of the plurality of adjustment signal generating circuits and outputting it through a common signal path. Also included is a control microprocessor for adjusting a plurality of adjusting sections of the image sensing apparatus by using the output of the plurality of adjustment signal generating circuits output through the common signal path, wherein adjustment of the plurality of adjusting sections of the image sensing apparatus using the output of the plurality of adjustment signal generating circuits is effected with a reduced number of signal paths between the plurality of adjustment signal generating circuits and the control microprocessor, thereby simplifying the circuit construction of the image sensing apparatus as a whole and improving the reliability thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Teruo Hieda
- 👤 Shinji Sakai
- 👤 Makoto Shimokoriyama
- 👤 Tsutomu Fukatsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/665; H04N23/67; H04N23/673; H04N23/70; H04N23/71; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N23/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: signal processing means for processing image sensing signals; data processing means, including a plurality of adjustment signal generating means for generating mutually different output signals for automatic adjustment by using a part of signals of said signal processing means; an interface circuit for controlling output and input processing of data from and to said data processing means to convert the generated output signals into a predetermined format to output the converted output signals through a common signal path; and control means for adjusting a plurality of adjusting sections of said image sensing apparatus by using the converted output signals outputted through said common signal path by said interface means, wherein said signal processing means and said data processing means are integrated in the same integrated circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: signal processing means for processing image sensing signals; data processing means, including a plurality of adjustment signal generating means for generating mutually different output signals for automatic adjustment by using a part of signals of said signal processing means; an interface circuit for controlling output and input processing of data from and to said data processing means to convert the generated output signals into a predetermined format to output the converted output signals through a common signal path; and control means for adjusting a plurality of adjusting sections of said image sensing apparatus by using the converted output signals outputted through said common signal path by said interface means, wherein said signal processing means and said data processing means are integrated in the same integrated circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment signal generating means generates signals for automatic focusing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment signal generating means generates signals for automatic exposure adjustment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment signal generating means generates signals for automatic white balance adjustment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: signal processing means for processing image sensing signals; data processing means, including a plurality of adjustment signal generating means for generating mutually different output signals for automatic adjustment by using a part of the signals of said signal processing means; an interface circuit for controlling output and input processing of data from and to said data processing means to convert the generated output signals into a predetermined format to output the converted output signals through a common signal path; and control means for performing adjustment in accordance with each of the converted output signals outputted through said common signal path by said interface means, wherein said signal processing means and said data processing means are integrated in the same integrated circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: signal processing means for processing image sensing signals; data processing means, including a plurality of adjustment signal generating means for generating mutually different output signals for automatic adjustment by using a part of the signals of said signal processing means; an interface circuit for controlling output and input processing of data from and to said data processing means to convert the generated output signals into a predetermined format to output the converted output signals through a common signal path; and control means for performing adjustment in accordance with each of the converted output signals outputted through said common signal path by said interface means, wherein said signal processing means and said data processing means are integrated in the same integrated circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said adjustment signal generating means covers at least one of the following operations: automatic focusing, automatic iris adjustment and automatic white balance adjustment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said data processing means converts signals of said adjustment signal generating means to a common arithmetic-processing form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image sensing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said automatic focusing, said automatic iris adjustment and said automatic white balance adjustment are executed serially.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
A signal processing circuit for video cameras, comprising: (A) an extraction circuit for extracting a plurality of control parameters from image sensing signals output from an image sensing means; (B) data processing means including (i) data forming circuitry for forming predetermined data signals from said plurality of control parameters extracted by said extraction circuit, and (ii) an output circuit for controlling output and input processing of data from and to said data forming circuitry to convert data from said data forming circuitry into a predetermined format and outputting the converted data to a common bus, wherein said extraction circuit, said data forming circuitry, and said output circuit are integrated in one integrated circuit chip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
A signal processing circuit for video cameras, comprising: (A) an extraction circuit for extracting a plurality of control parameters from image sensing signals output from an image sensing means; (B) data processing means including (i) data forming circuitry for forming predetermined data signals from said plurality of control parameters extracted by said extraction circuit, and (ii) an output circuit for controlling output and input processing of data from and to said data forming circuitry to convert data from said data forming circuitry into a predetermined format and outputting the converted data to a common bus, wherein said extraction circuit, said data forming circuitry, and said output circuit are integrated in one integrated circuit chip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A signal processing circuit according to claim 9, further comprising a common arithmetic processing circuit for performing arithmetic processing serially on data output from said output circuit to generate control values corresponding to said control parameters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A signal processing circuit according to claim 10, further comprising an adjustment circuit for adjusting an image sensing operation in accordance with output control values of said arithmetic processing circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A signal processing circuit according to claim 11, wherein said adjustment circuit covers automatic focusing, automatic iris adjustment and automatic white balance adjustment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
146 words
A video signal processing device comprising: (A) extraction means for extracting a plurality of predetermined signal components from a video signal to detect an image pickup state; (B) decision means for deciding whether the image pickup state is appropriate, based on the plurality of signal components extracted by said extraction means, and for outputting a decision signal in accordance with said decision; (C) adjustment signal generation means for operating on data to produce an adjustment signal for adjustment of the image pickup state, based on the output of said decision means, and for outputting the adjustment signal; and (D) interface means, provided between said extraction means and said adjustment signal generation means, for converting the output of said extraction means into the data on which said adjustment signal generation means operates, wherein said extraction means and said interface means are integrated in a common integrated circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
146 words
A video signal processing device comprising: (A) extraction means for extracting a plurality of predetermined signal components from a video signal to detect an image pickup state; (B) decision means for deciding whether the image pickup state is appropriate, based on the plurality of signal components extracted by said extraction means, and for outputting a decision signal in accordance with said decision; (C) adjustment signal generation means for operating on data to produce an adjustment signal for adjustment of the image pickup state, based on the output of said decision means, and for outputting the adjustment signal; and (D) interface means, provided between said extraction means and said adjustment signal generation means, for converting the output of said extraction means into the data on which said adjustment signal generation means operates, wherein said extraction means and said interface means are integrated in a common integrated circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said data processing means supplies the data to said adjustment signal generation means within a vertical interval of said video signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein said adjustment signal generation means terminates operations on the data within a vertical interval based on output signals supplied from said data processing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of signal components are for performing automatic focusing, automatic iris adjustment and automatic white balance adjustment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said interface means supplies the data to said adjustment signal generation means by means of a common bus.
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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) | 1999-12-17 | 2000-06-17 | 2000-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-17 | 2004-06-17 | 2004-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-17 | 2008-06-17 | 2008-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |