US5691772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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White balance adjustment device
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A white balance adjustment device adapted to be used in contexts where a photographic subject is illuminated with fluorescent lighting. The white balance adjustment device includes an imaging device for forming an image of a photographic subject and for outputting signals representing the image. An adjustment mode selection device is included for selecting a white balance adjustment mode according to the kind of light source used to illuminate the photographic subject. A measurement unit is used to measure color aspects of the light source used to illuminate the photographic subject. White balance adjustment circuitry is included to adjust the white balance of the output of the imaging device in accordance with the adjustment mode selected by the adjustment mode selection device and in accordance with the measured color aspects of the light source used to illuminate the subject. A method of performing white balance adjustment includes the steps of imaging a subject to produce a video signal representing an image of the subject, color separating the video signal into its primary light color components, measuring the color attributes of light used to illuminate the subject to produce a color measurement value, matching the color measurement value with a predetermined parameter to produce a processing parameter which corresponds to the type of light used to illuminate the subject, and performing white balance adjustment of the video signal using the processing parameter.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiro Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N23/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A white balance adjustment device comprising: an imaging unit which forms and outputs an image signal of an illuminated subject; an adjustment mode selection unit which selects a white balance adjustment mode from a fluorescent type adjustment mode and a nonfluorescent type adjustment mode; a measurement unit which outputs a color value corresponding to measured color aspects of light received from the illuminated subject; a fluorescent lamp color discrimination unit which selects a type of fluorescent lamp color from a first and second type of fluorescent lamp color in response to the color value output from the measurement unit when the fluorescent type adjustment mode is selected; and a white balance adjustment unit which adjusts the white balance of the subject image signal in accordance with the adjustment mode selected by said adjustment mode selection unit, the color value output by said measurement unit, and the selected type of fluorescent lamp color.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A white balance adjustment device comprising: an imaging unit which forms and outputs an image signal of an illuminated subject; an adjustment mode selection unit which selects a white balance adjustment mode from a fluorescent type adjustment mode and a nonfluorescent type adjustment mode; a measurement unit which outputs a color value corresponding to measured color aspects of light received from the illuminated subject; a fluorescent lamp color discrimination unit which selects a type of fluorescent lamp color from a first and second type of fluorescent lamp color in response to the color value output from the measurement unit when the fluorescent type adjustment mode is selected; and a white balance adjustment unit which adjusts the white balance of the subject image signal in accordance with the adjustment mode selected by said adjustment mode selection unit, the color value output by said measurement unit, and the selected type of fluorescent lamp color.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The white balance adjustment device according to claim 1, further comprising: a fluorescent lamp control table storing first and second values respectively corresponding to said first and second types of fluorescent lamp colors, wherein a value corresponding to the selected type of fluorescent lamp is output from said control table to said white balance adjustment unit to perform white balance adjustment.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of white balance adjusting a video signal comprising the following steps: imaging a subject to produce a subject video signal; measuring color attributes of fluorescent light used to illuminate the subject; selecting a fluorescent lamp color from first and second fluorescent lamp colors in response to the measured color attributes of said illuminating light; and performing white balance adjustment of the video signal using the selected fluorescent lamp color.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of white balance adjusting a video signal comprising the following steps: imaging a subject to produce a subject video signal; measuring color attributes of fluorescent light used to illuminate the subject; selecting a fluorescent lamp color from first and second fluorescent lamp colors in response to the measured color attributes of said illuminating light; and performing white balance adjustment of the video signal using the selected fluorescent lamp color.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
A white balance adjustment device which recognizes a kind of fluorescent light source, comprising: an imaging unit which outputs a video signal corresponding to a subject image; an adjustment mode selection unit which selects a white balance adjustment mode from a fluorescent adjustment mode and a nonfluorescent adjustment mode; a light measurement unit which measures color aspects of the subject; a fluorescent lamp color discrimination unit which selects a fluorescent lamp color from first and second fluorescent lamp colors in response to the measured color aspects when the fluorescent adjustment mode is selected; and a white balance adjustment unit which adjusts white balance characteristics of said video signal in accordance with the selected white balance adjustment mode and the selected fluorescent light color.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A white balance adjustment device which recognizes a kind of fluorescent light source, comprising: an imaging unit which outputs a video signal corresponding to a subject image; an adjustment mode selection unit which selects a white balance adjustment mode from a fluorescent adjustment mode and a nonfluorescent adjustment mode; a light measurement unit which measures color aspects of the subject; a fluorescent lamp color discrimination unit which selects a fluorescent lamp color from first and second fluorescent lamp colors in response to the measured color aspects when the fluorescent adjustment mode is selected; and a white balance adjustment unit which adjusts white balance characteristics of said video signal in accordance with the selected white balance adjustment mode and the selected fluorescent light color.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The white balance adjustment device according to claim 4, further comprising: a color measurement unit which measures color aspects of ambient light surrounding said subject and outputs a corresponding color value, wherein the white balance adjustment unit adjusts the white balance characteristics of the video signal in accordance with the output color value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
A white balance adjustment unit comprising: an imaging unit which outputs a video signal corresponding to a subject, said video signal having white balance characteristics; a light measurement unit which measures ambient light about the subject; a fluorescent lamp color discrimination unit which selects a fluorescent lamp color from first and second fluorescent lamp colors in response to the measured ambient light and outputs a light source value corresponding to the selected lamp color; and a white balance adjustment unit which adjusts the white balance characteristics of said video signal in response to the selected lamp color.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
A white balance adjustment unit comprising: an imaging unit which outputs a video signal corresponding to a subject, said video signal having white balance characteristics; a light measurement unit which measures ambient light about the subject; a fluorescent lamp color discrimination unit which selects a fluorescent lamp color from first and second fluorescent lamp colors in response to the measured ambient light and outputs a light source value corresponding to the selected lamp color; and a white balance adjustment unit which adjusts the white balance characteristics of said video signal in response to the selected lamp color.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The white balance adjustment device according to claim 6, further comprising: an adjustment mode selector which selects a white balance adjustment mode from a fluorescent adjustment mode and a nonfluorescent adjustment mode; wherein said white balance adjustment unit further adjusts said white balance characteristics of said video signal in accordance with the selected white balance adjustment mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
A white balance adjustment device which recognizes fluorescent light sources, comprising: an imaging unit which outputs a formed image of a subject; an adjustment mode selection unit which selects a white balance adjustment mode from a fluorescent adjustment mode and a nonfluorescent adjustment mode; a measurement unit which measures color aspects of a light source used to illuminate said subject and which outputs a color value corresponding to said color aspects; and a white balance adjustment unit which adjusts the white balance of the output of said imaging unit in accordance with the white balance adjustment mode selected by said adjustment mode selection unit and the color value measured by said measurement unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A white balance adjustment device which recognizes fluorescent light sources, comprising: an imaging unit which outputs a formed image of a subject; an adjustment mode selection unit which selects a white balance adjustment mode from a fluorescent adjustment mode and a nonfluorescent adjustment mode; a measurement unit which measures color aspects of a light source used to illuminate said subject and which outputs a color value corresponding to said color aspects; and a white balance adjustment unit which adjusts the white balance of the output of said imaging unit in accordance with the white balance adjustment mode selected by said adjustment mode selection unit and the color value measured by said measurement unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
A white balance adjustment device comprising: an imaging unit which outputs a video signal corresponding to a subject image; a light measurement unit which measures color aspects of the subject; a fluorescent lamp color discrimination unit which selects a fluorescent lamp color from first and second fluorescent lamp colors in response to the measured color aspects; a fluorescent lamp control table which outputs a fluorescent lamp color value in accordance with the selected fluorescent lamp color; and a white balance adjustment unit which adjusts white balance characteristics of said video signal in accordance with the fluorescent lamp color value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
A white balance adjustment device comprising: an imaging unit which outputs a video signal corresponding to a subject image; a light measurement unit which measures color aspects of the subject; a fluorescent lamp color discrimination unit which selects a fluorescent lamp color from first and second fluorescent lamp colors in response to the measured color aspects; a fluorescent lamp control table which outputs a fluorescent lamp color value in accordance with the selected fluorescent lamp color; and a white balance adjustment unit which adjusts white balance characteristics of said video signal in accordance with the fluorescent lamp color value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The white balance adjustment device according to claim 9, wherein the fluorescent lamp color discrimination unit selects the fluorescent lamp color from said first and second lamp colors and third and fourth colors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |