US5805300A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image processing apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-05
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Granted: 1998-09-08
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Expires: 2015-06-05
Abstract
Abstract An image processing apparatus having a solid state image sensor for inputting an optical image thereto and converting the image into an electrical signal; an image memory having a general-purpose DRAM formed by at least one chip and required to control the refresh operation from the outside of the memory chip; a timing signal generator for generating timing of read from the solid state image sensor; a transfer/storage control device for horizontally reading data from the solid state image sensor synchronously with the horizontal read timing signal generated from the timing signal generator, transferring the read data and storing the data in the DRAM; a first refresh signal generator for refreshing the DRAM at predetermined time intervals when no data is read from the solid state image sensor; and a second refresh signal generator for refreshing the DRAM a predetermined number of times during the dormant period of the horizontal read timing signal. In the apparatus, the second refresh signal generator is made effective synchronously with the horizontal read timing signal during the time of read from the solid state image sensor, and the first refresh signal generator is made effective during a time other than the time of read from the solid state image sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuo Fukushima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/21; H04N1/2104; H04N1/2112; H04N1/2137; G; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/401; G11C11/406; G11C7/00; G11C7/16; H04N1/2141; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/63; H04N2101/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data in synchronism with a video synchronization signal; memory means for storing said image data; memory control means for controlling said memory means to switch between an access mode for accessing said memory means and a maintain mode for maintaining image data in said memory means; and refresh means for supplying refresh pulses to said memory means during a blanking period of said video synchronization signal in synchronism with said video synchronization signal in said access mode, and for supplying said refresh pulses to said memory means during a period other than the blanking period of said video synchronization signal in said maintaining mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data in synchronism with a video synchronization signal; memory means for storing said image data; memory control means for controlling said memory means to switch between an access mode for accessing said memory means and a maintain mode for maintaining image data in said memory means; and refresh means for supplying refresh pulses to said memory means during a blanking period of said video synchronization signal in synchronism with said video synchronization signal in said access mode, and for supplying said refresh pulses to said memory means during a period other than the blanking period of said video synchronization signal in said maintaining mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means includes an image sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory means includes a DRAM.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory control means reads/writes image data from/to said memory means in said access mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data in synchronism with a video synchronizing signal; memory means for storing said image data in one of an access mode and a maintaining mode; and refresh means for supplying refresh pulses to said memory means during a blanking period of said video synchronizing signal in synchronism with said video synchronizing signal in said access mode, and for supplying said refresh pulses to said memory means during a period other than the blanking period of said video synchronizing signal in said maintaining mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data in synchronism with a video synchronizing signal; memory means for storing said image data in one of an access mode and a maintaining mode; and refresh means for supplying refresh pulses to said memory means during a blanking period of said video synchronizing signal in synchronism with said video synchronizing signal in said access mode, and for supplying said refresh pulses to said memory means during a period other than the blanking period of said video synchronizing signal in said maintaining mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said input means includes an image sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said memory means includes a DRAM.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising refresh pulse control means for changing a cycle of said refresh pulses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said refresh pulse control means changes said cycle according to whether said memory means is accessed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said refresh pulse control means makes said cycle longer when said memory means is not accessed than a cycle when said memory means is accessed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said video synchronizing signal includes a horizontal synchronizing pulse.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said refresh means supplies a plurality of refresh pulses to said memory means during a horizontal blanking period.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data in synchronism with a video synchronizing signal having a periodic blanking period; memory means for storing said image data in one of a data access mode and a data maintaining mode; and refresh means for supplying refresh pulses to said memory means during said periodic blanking period in said data access mode, and for supplying said refresh pulses to said memory means during a period other than the periodic blanking period in said maintaining mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data in synchronism with a video synchronizing signal having a periodic blanking period; memory means for storing said image data in one of a data access mode and a data maintaining mode; and refresh means for supplying refresh pulses to said memory means during said periodic blanking period in said data access mode, and for supplying said refresh pulses to said memory means during a period other than the periodic blanking period in said maintaining mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said input means includes an image sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said memory means includes a DRAM.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising refresh pulse control means for changing a cycle of said refresh pulse.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said refresh pulse control means changes said cycle according to whether said memory means is accessed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said refresh pulse control means makes said cycle longer when said memory means is not accessed than a cycle when said memory means is accessed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said refresh means supplies a plurality of refresh pulses to said memory means during a horizontal blanking period.
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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) | 2001-09-07 | 2002-03-09 | 2002-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-07 | 2006-03-09 | 2006-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-07 | 2010-03-09 | 2010-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |