US5627620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photometry device and method
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1995-04-10
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Granted: 1997-05-06
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Expires: 2015-04-10
Abstract
Abstract An accumulation-type light receiving element photoelectrically converts light from the subject field and outputs an electric signal on the basis of the brightness. An accumulation time setting component sets the accumulation time of the light receiving element and an accumulation operation component carries out accumulation in the light receiving element on the basis of the information from the accumulation time setting component. A photometric value input component inputs the photometry output from the light receiving element. A brightness value calculating component calculates the brightness value of the subject field on the basis of the outputs of the accumulation time setting component and the photometric value input component and further corrects the accumulation time of the light receiving element that has been input from the accumulation time setting component.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroyuki Iwasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/099; G03B7/0993; G03B7/0997; G03B7/09979; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A photometry device, comprising: an accumulation-type light receiving element that photoelectrically converts light from a subject field and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the light; and a brightness value calculating component that calculates a brightness value of the subject field, wherein the brightness value calculating component corrects an accumulation time of the light receiving element to compensate for the presence of any offset voltage at the light receiving element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A photometry device, comprising: an accumulation-type light receiving element that photoelectrically converts light from a subject field and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the light; and a brightness value calculating component that calculates a brightness value of the subject field, wherein the brightness value calculating component corrects an accumulation time of the light receiving element to compensate for the presence of any offset voltage at the light receiving element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The photometry device according to claim 1, wherein the brightness value calculating component calculates the brightness value of the subject field using a value in which a fixed value is added to the accumulation time of the light receiving element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The photometry device according to claim 2, wherein the light receiving element operates based on a clock pulse input to the light receiving element, the brightness value calculating component using as the fixed value a value corresponding to a period of the clock pulse.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The photometry device according to claim 3, wherein the light receiving element generates a base clock pulse that is obtained by dividing the clock pulse input to the light receiving element by a division ratio, the brightness value calculating component using as the fixed value a value corresponding to the period of the base clock pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The photometry device according to claim 4, wherein the light receiving element is equipped with a division ratio changing component that changes the division ratio by which the clock pulse is divided.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The photometry device according to claim 5, wherein the fixed value is increased when the period of the base clock pulse is increased.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
The photometry device of claim 1, further comprising: an accumulation time setting component that sets the accumulation time of the light receiving element; an accumulation operation component that carries out accumulation of the light receiving element on the basis of information from the accumulation time setting component; and a photometry value input component that inputs the electrical signal output from the light receiving element, wherein the brightness value calculating component calculates the brightness value based upon output of the accumulation time setting component and the photometry value input component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The photometry device according to claim 1, wherein the accumulation-type light receiving element is a charge-coupled device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The photometry device according to claim 1, further including an optimization component for calculating an optimum accumulation time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
A camera including a photometry device, the photometry device comprising: an accumulation-type light receiving element that photoelectrically converts light from a subject field and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the light; and a brightness value calculating component that calculates a brightness value of the subject field, wherein the brightness value calculating component corrects an accumulation time of the light receiving element to compensate for the presence of any offset voltage at the light receiving element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
A camera including a photometry device, the photometry device comprising: an accumulation-type light receiving element that photoelectrically converts light from a subject field and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the light; and a brightness value calculating component that calculates a brightness value of the subject field, wherein the brightness value calculating component corrects an accumulation time of the light receiving element to compensate for the presence of any offset voltage at the light receiving element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A photometry device comprising: light receiving means for photoelectrically converting light from a subject field into an electric signal; and means, operably coupled to the light receiving element, for calculating a brightness value of the subject field and for correcting an accumulation time of the light receiving element to compensate for the presence of any offset voltage of the light receiving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
A photometry device comprising: light receiving means for photoelectrically converting light from a subject field into an electric signal; and means, operably coupled to the light receiving element, for calculating a brightness value of the subject field and for correcting an accumulation time of the light receiving element to compensate for the presence of any offset voltage of the light receiving means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the accumulation time comprises an accumulation time setting and a correction value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 12, further comprising timing generator means for generating clock pulses, wherein the correction value corresponds to one period of the clock pulse generated by the timing generator means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 13, wherein the timing generator means includes division ratio changing means for changing a division ratio of a clock signal input into the timing generator means, and wherein the clock pulses are generated on the basis of the input clock signal and division ratio.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 14, wherein as the division ratio increases, the accumulation correction value decreases.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
A camera including a photometry device, the photometry device comprising: light receiving means for photoelectrically converting light from a subject field into an electric signal; and means, operably coupled to the light receiving element, for calculating a brightness value of the subject field and for correcting an accumulation time of the light receiving element to compensate for the presence of any offset voltage of the light receiving means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
A camera including a photometry device, the photometry device comprising: light receiving means for photoelectrically converting light from a subject field into an electric signal; and means, operably coupled to the light receiving element, for calculating a brightness value of the subject field and for correcting an accumulation time of the light receiving element to compensate for the presence of any offset voltage of the light receiving means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of determining a brightness value for a subject field, comprising the steps of: correcting an accumulation time of a light receiving element; and calculating the brightness value of the subject field on the basis of the corrected accumulation time.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of determining a brightness value for a subject field, comprising the steps of: correcting an accumulation time of a light receiving element; and calculating the brightness value of the subject field on the basis of the corrected accumulation time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the step of correcting an accumulation time comprises the step of adding an accumulation time correction value to an accumulation time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of setting the accumulation time correction value equal to one period of a clock signal generated by a timing generator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of changing the period of the clock signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the step of changing the clock signal of the timing generator comprises the steps of: inputting a master clock signal into the timing generator; and dividing the master clock signal by a selected division ratio.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of decreasing the accumulation time correction value as the division ratio increases.
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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) | 2000-05-05 | 2000-11-04 | 2001-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-05 | 2004-11-04 | 2005-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-05 | 2008-11-04 | 2009-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |