Patent US5831676A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5831676A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image pickup device using plural control parameters for exposure control
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1992-08-19
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Granted: 1998-11-03
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Expires: 2012-08-19
Abstract
Abstract An image pickup device capable of exposure control utilizing the iris aperture, shutter speed and gain as three control parameters, comprising means for setting a photometry area in the image frame; means for setting an input parameter as a reference for evaluation, based on the luminance information in an image signal obtained from the photometry means; means for determining the values of the three control parameters for exposure control, according to the value of the input parameter; switch means for switching, according to the phototaking mode, a program setting the control caharacteristics of each control parameter as a function of the input parameter; and photometry area switch means for switching the set state of the photometry area in the image frame, in linkage with the switching operation of the switch means, wherein the phototaking mode is switched according to the phototaking conditions, thereby controlling the parameters and the light metering area according to a program matching the phototaking mode, and enabling to constantly effect the optimum phototaking operation under any phototaking situation or conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Koji Takahashi
- 👤 Kenji Kyuma
- 👤 Kyoji Tamura
- 👤 Yuji Tsuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/72; H04N23/745; H04N23/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
An image pickup device for effecting exposure control with plural control parameters, comprising: image pickup means for picking up images; means for setting a photometry area in an image frame; means for detecting an input parameter, based on a luminance information in an image signal obtained from said photometry area by said image pickup means; means for determining values of plural control parameters for exposure control according to the value of said input parameter, said plural control parameters being changeable control characteristics for the exposure control within a predetermined range which is divided into a plurality of portions, and the characteristics of predetermined at least two control parameters being set changeable at the same time in a predetermined border region of said plurality of portions; switch means for switching, according to a photographing mode, the control characteristics of said control parameters for the exposure control performed according to the value of said input parameter; and photometry area change means for changing the photometry area in said image frame, synchronously with the switching operation of said switch means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
An image pickup device for effecting exposure control with plural control parameters, comprising: image pickup means for picking up images; means for setting a photometry area in an image frame; means for detecting an input parameter, based on a luminance information in an image signal obtained from said photometry area by said image pickup means; means for determining values of plural control parameters for exposure control according to the value of said input parameter, said plural control parameters being changeable control characteristics for the exposure control within a predetermined range which is divided into a plurality of portions, and the characteristics of predetermined at least two control parameters being set changeable at the same time in a predetermined border region of said plurality of portions; switch means for switching, according to a photographing mode, the control characteristics of said control parameters for the exposure control performed according to the value of said input parameter; and photometry area change means for changing the photometry area in said image frame, synchronously with the switching operation of said switch means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said control parameters are at least two of the shutter speed, iris aperture and gain of AGC.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said photometry area switch means is adapted to control position, size and weighting of the photometry area in said image frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising a mode selector switch for selectively switching plural phototaking modes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the set values of the plural control parameters as a function of the input parameter are stored in the form of a data table corresponding to each of plural phototaking modes, and are switched synchronously with an operation of said switch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 2, further comprising image pickup elements, wherein said determining means varies the shutter speed by control of charge accumulation time of said image pickup elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
A device according to claim 1, which constitutes a video camera.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said control parameters are divided into plural variable areas according to the value of said input parameter, and, in each of said divided areas, only one of said control parameters is rendered variable while others are fixed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein each of said control parameters, when varied in the value thereof between different two values, is varied through an intermediate value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
An image pickup device for effecting exposure control with plural control parameters, comprising: image pickup means for picking up images; means for detecting an input parameter constituting a reference for evaluation, based on the luminance information from an image signal outputted from said image pickup means; means for determining the control parameters for exposure control, in relation to an iris aperture, accumulation time of said image pickup means and gain, performed according to a value of said input parameter, said control parameters being changeable control characteristics for exposure control within a predetermined range which is divided into a plurality of portions and the characteristics of predetermined at least two control parameters being set changeable at the same time in a predetermined border region of said plurality of portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
An image pickup device for effecting exposure control with plural control parameters, comprising: image pickup means for picking up images; means for detecting an input parameter constituting a reference for evaluation, based on the luminance information from an image signal outputted from said image pickup means; means for determining the control parameters for exposure control, in relation to an iris aperture, accumulation time of said image pickup means and gain, performed according to a value of said input parameter, said control parameters being changeable control characteristics for exposure control within a predetermined range which is divided into a plurality of portions and the characteristics of predetermined at least two control parameters being set changeable at the same time in a predetermined border region of said plurality of portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein said input parameter is a luminance level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein said selection means is a manually operable switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein said at least two data memory means are provided for respective phototaking modes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 10, further comprising automatic switch means capable of automatically switching said data memory means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein said automatic switch means is adapted to select said data memory means according to another input parameter different from said input parameter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 15, wherein said another input parameter is flicker.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein the phototaking modes include a portrait mode, a sports mode, a full auto mode, a landscape mode, a snow and surf mode, and a spotlight mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
136 words
An image pickup device comprising: a) an image sensor device for photoelectric conversion of incident light focused on an image pickup surface; b) exposure control means for performing exposure control of a phototaking mode of said image pickup; c) detection means for dividing an image frame into plural areas and detecting a luminance level in each of said areas; d) means for preparing a histogram according to said luminance level obtained from an output of said detection means; e) area selection means for selecting areas as exposure control areas from said plural areas in the image frame according to said histogram; and f) control means for controlling the exposure control of the phototaking mode, performed by said exposure control means, based on the luminance level in the exposure control areas selected by said area selection means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
136 words
An image pickup device comprising: a) an image sensor device for photoelectric conversion of incident light focused on an image pickup surface; b) exposure control means for performing exposure control of a phototaking mode of said image pickup; c) detection means for dividing an image frame into plural areas and detecting a luminance level in each of said areas; d) means for preparing a histogram according to said luminance level obtained from an output of said detection means; e) area selection means for selecting areas as exposure control areas from said plural areas in the image frame according to said histogram; and f) control means for controlling the exposure control of the phototaking mode, performed by said exposure control means, based on the luminance level in the exposure control areas selected by said area selection means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 18, wherein said exposure control means has an iris aperture, shutter speed and gain as exposure control parameters.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein said control means effects switching of said exposure control parameters and switching of said area selection means in mutual linkage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein said control means is adapted to set plural phototaking modes, and to switch the exposure control parameter and the photometry area according to the phototaking mode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 21, further comprising a data table storing data for controlling said exposure control means and said area selection means, for each phototaking mode.
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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) | 2001-11-02 | 2002-05-04 | 2002-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-02 | 2006-05-04 | 2006-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-02 | 2010-05-04 | 2010-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |