US5999215A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image pickup apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1997-04-24
•
Granted: 1999-12-07
•
Expires: 2017-04-24
Abstract
Abstract An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor arranged to photoelectrically convert an image light coming from an object, an iris arranged to adjust the quantity of image light incident on the image sensor, a detection circuit for detecting the state of the iris, a correction circuit to correct the output of the detection circuit so as to correct a change of the iris caused by a change in the mode of shooting, and a focus adjusting device. The correction circuit is arranged such that, when an aperture value is caused to change by a change in the shooting mode, the correction circuit offsets the change of the aperture value by correcting aperture value information before the aperture value information is supplied to the focus adjusting device.
Inventors
- 👤 Kyoji Tamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/95; H04N23/958; H04N23/959; H04N23/70; H04N23/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) image sensor; (b) iris control means for automatically controlling an iris in accordance with a brightness of an object and a predetermined exposure program; (c) detection means for detecting whether the iris varies to cancel a brightness variation of an object or said iris varies corresponding to an exposure program change irrelevant of a brightness variation of an object; and (d) focus control means for changing a focus condition of an image impinged on said image sensor when said detection means detects that said iris varies to cancel a brightness variation of an object and for inhibiting changing the focus condition when said detection means detects that iris varies corresponding to said exposure program change irrelevant with a brightness variation of an object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) image sensor; (b) iris control means for automatically controlling an iris in accordance with a brightness of an object and a predetermined exposure program; (c) detection means for detecting whether the iris varies to cancel a brightness variation of an object or said iris varies corresponding to an exposure program change irrelevant of a brightness variation of an object; and (d) focus control means for changing a focus condition of an image impinged on said image sensor when said detection means detects that said iris varies to cancel a brightness variation of an object and for inhibiting changing the focus condition when said detection means detects that iris varies corresponding to said exposure program change irrelevant with a brightness variation of an object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising memory for storing a previous focus condition when said iris varies corresponding to the mode change irrelevant with the brightness variation of the object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said focus control means control the focus condition also in response to the output of said image sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: white balance control means for changing a white balance of an output of said image sensor when said detection means detects that said iris varies to cancel a brightness variation of an object and for inhibiting changing the white balance when said detection means detects that iris varies corresponding to said exposure program change irrelevant of a brightness variation of an object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising memory for storing a previous white balance condition when said iris varies corresponding to the mode change irrelevant with the brightness variation of the object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said white balance control means control the white balance also in response to the output of said image sensor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4371240A
Cited
US4387975A
Cited
US4574303A
Cited
US4825293A
Cited
US5212516A
Cited
US5128769A
Cited
US5093716A
Cited
US5319449A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-06-07 | 2003-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-06 | 2007-06-07 | 2007-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-06 | 2011-06-07 | 2011-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |