Patent US6124891A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6124891A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Exposure control device
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-07-21
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Granted: 2000-09-26
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Expires: 2014-07-21
Abstract
Abstract An exposure control device for performing exposure control on the basis of a video signal obtained from a light measuring area set within an image sensing plane is provided with a determining circuit which determines the position of a photographed object within the image sensing plane from the values of a specific component of the video signal obtained from the inside and outside of a detection area the position of which is variably set within the image sensing plane. The light measuring area is set in the object's position within the image sensing plane detected by the determining circuit. The exposure control device is provided further with a changing circuit which detects the size of the object on the image sensing plane and changes the size of the light measuring area accordingly, and a weighting circuit which performs for light measurement a weighting operation on video signals obtained from the inside and outside of the light measuring area.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideo Homma
- 👤 Akihiro Fujiwara
- 👤 Hirofumi Suda
- 👤 Kunihiko Yamada
- 👤 Masamichi Toyama
- 👤 Kunio Imai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A video camera device, comprising: (A) a photographing lens; (B) image pickup means for photoelectrically converting an image of an object formed by said photographing lens and for outputting an image signal; (C) extracting means for extracting a predetermined component from said image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in a picture plane; (D) movement detecting means for detecting a movement of the image of the object on the basis of the image signal in synchronism with a first period; (E) control means, in synchronism with a second period different from the first period, for controlling a position of the detecting area in said picture plane on the basis of an output of said movement detecting means; and (F) processing means, in synchronism with the first period for performing a predetermined process on the basis of the predetermined component out from said extracting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A video camera device, comprising: (A) a photographing lens; (B) image pickup means for photoelectrically converting an image of an object formed by said photographing lens and for outputting an image signal; (C) extracting means for extracting a predetermined component from said image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in a picture plane; (D) movement detecting means for detecting a movement of the image of the object on the basis of the image signal in synchronism with a first period; (E) control means, in synchronism with a second period different from the first period, for controlling a position of the detecting area in said picture plane on the basis of an output of said movement detecting means; and (F) processing means, in synchronism with the first period for performing a predetermined process on the basis of the predetermined component out from said extracting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said movement detecting means is arranged to move said detecting area in an upward or downward direction or rightward or leftward direction at a period of a clock signal and to move the position of said detecting area in such direction that a difference of the luminance in said detecting area is increased.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the clock signal is a vertical synchronizing signal and said extracting means is arranged to output a luminance signal level at an outside of said detecting area, in addition to a luminance signal level at an inside of said detecting area, and further comprising exposure computing means including exposure compensating means which is arranged to evaluate the luminance signal level at the inside of said detecting area and the luminance signal level at the outside of said detecting area, to discriminate an object photographing state and to compensate exposure control information on the basis of information of the discrimination.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said processing means is an iris.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said processing means is an electronic shutter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
170 words
An image processing device, comprising: (A) image pickup means for photoelectrically converting an image of an object picked up by said photographing lens into an image signal and outputting said image signal; (B) extracting means for extracting a predetermined component of the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in a picture plane; (C) detecting means, in synchronism with a clock signal, for detecting a movement of the image of the object in said picture plane; (D) control means arranged to set said detecting area at an approximately central portion of said picture plane in an initial state, to change the set position of said detecting area in said picture plane in every n times the clock signal on the basis of an output of said movement detecting means; and (E) exposure control means arranged to output exposure control information, in synchronism with the clock signal on the basis of an output of said extracting means and to control the diaphragm on the basis of said exposure control information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
170 words
An image processing device, comprising: (A) image pickup means for photoelectrically converting an image of an object picked up by said photographing lens into an image signal and outputting said image signal; (B) extracting means for extracting a predetermined component of the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in a picture plane; (C) detecting means, in synchronism with a clock signal, for detecting a movement of the image of the object in said picture plane; (D) control means arranged to set said detecting area at an approximately central portion of said picture plane in an initial state, to change the set position of said detecting area in said picture plane in every n times the clock signal on the basis of an output of said movement detecting means; and (E) exposure control means arranged to output exposure control information, in synchronism with the clock signal on the basis of an output of said extracting means and to control the diaphragm on the basis of said exposure control information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein the clock signal is a vertical synchronizing signal (V-sync) and said detecting means is arranged to move said detecting area in an upward or downward direction or rightward or leftward direction at a period of the V-sync and to move the position of said detecting area in such direction that a luminance difference in said detecting area is increased.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein said extracting means is arranged to output a luminance signal level at an outside of said detecting area, in addition to a luminance signal level at an inside of said detecting area, and further comprising exposure computing means including exposure compensating means which is arranged to evaluate the luminance signal level at the inside of said detecting area and the luminance signal level at the outside of said detecting area, to discriminate a photographing state of the object and to compensate said exposure control information on the basis of information of the discrimination.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
A video camera device, comprising; (A) image pickup means for converting an image to an image signal; (B) detecting means for performing a light detecting operation for detecting a level of the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in an image screen; (C) movement detecting means in synchronism with a first period, for detecting a movement of said image in said image screen on the basis of the output of said detecting means; (D) control means, in synchronism with a second period longer than the first period for changing a position of the detecting area in said image screen on the basis of an output of said movement detecting means; and (E) exposure control means, in synchronism with the first period for computing exposure control information on the basis of the output of said detecting means and controlling an exposure on the basis of the exposure control information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
150 words
A video camera device, comprising; (A) image pickup means for converting an image to an image signal; (B) detecting means for performing a light detecting operation for detecting a level of the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in an image screen; (C) movement detecting means in synchronism with a first period, for detecting a movement of said image in said image screen on the basis of the output of said detecting means; (D) control means, in synchronism with a second period longer than the first period for changing a position of the detecting area in said image screen on the basis of an output of said movement detecting means; and (E) exposure control means, in synchronism with the first period for computing exposure control information on the basis of the output of said detecting means and controlling an exposure on the basis of the exposure control information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said movement detecting means is arranged to move said detecting area in an upward or downward direction or rightward or leftward direction at a period of a vertical synchronizing signal (V-sync) and to move the position of said detecting area in such direction that a difference of the luminance in said detecting area is increased.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said movement detecting means is arranged to move said detecting area in an upward or downward direction or rightward or leftward direction and to move the position of said detecting area in such direction that a level of a high frequency component in the image signal corresponding to an inside of said detecting area is increased.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A device according to claim 11, wherein said detecting means is arranged to output a luminance signal level at an outside of said detecting area, in addition to the luminance signal level at an inside of said detecting area, and further comprising exposure computing means including exposure compensating means which is arranged to evaluate the luminance signal level at the inside of said detecting area and the luminance signal level at the outside of said detecting area, to discriminate an object photographing state and to compensate said exposure control information on the basis of information of the discrimination.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said exposure control means includes an iris.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said exposure control means includes an electronic shutter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
131 words
An image processing device, comprising: (A) light detecting means for performing a light detecting operation by detecting luminance levels of an image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in an image screen; (B) detecting means, in synchronism with a first period, for detecting a movement of said image in said image screen; (C) area control means, in synchronism with a second period longer than the first period for changing a position of the detecting area in said image screen on the basis of an output of said movement detecting means; and (D) exposure control means, in synchronism with the first period for computing exposure control information on the basis of an output of said light detecting means and to control an exposure on the basis of the exposure control information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
131 words
An image processing device, comprising: (A) light detecting means for performing a light detecting operation by detecting luminance levels of an image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in an image screen; (B) detecting means, in synchronism with a first period, for detecting a movement of said image in said image screen; (C) area control means, in synchronism with a second period longer than the first period for changing a position of the detecting area in said image screen on the basis of an output of said movement detecting means; and (D) exposure control means, in synchronism with the first period for computing exposure control information on the basis of an output of said light detecting means and to control an exposure on the basis of the exposure control information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
152 words
A video camera device, comprising: (A) image pickup means for converting an image to an image signal; (B) detecting means for performing a light detecting operation by detecting a level of the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in an image frame, in synchronism with a V-sync; (C) movement detecting means for detecting a movement of said image in said image frame, in synchronism with the V-sync on the basis of a change of an image signal component; (D) control means for controlling a position of the detecting area in said image frame on the basis of an output of said movement detecting means, in synchronism with a period n times the V-sync; and (E) exposure control means, in synchronism with the V-sync for computing exposure control information on the basis of an output of said detecting means and controlling an exposure on the basis of the exposure control information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
A video camera device, comprising: (A) image pickup means for converting an image to an image signal; (B) detecting means for performing a light detecting operation by detecting a level of the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in an image frame, in synchronism with a V-sync; (C) movement detecting means for detecting a movement of said image in said image frame, in synchronism with the V-sync on the basis of a change of an image signal component; (D) control means for controlling a position of the detecting area in said image frame on the basis of an output of said movement detecting means, in synchronism with a period n times the V-sync; and (E) exposure control means, in synchronism with the V-sync for computing exposure control information on the basis of an output of said detecting means and controlling an exposure on the basis of the exposure control information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein said movement detecting means is arranged to move said detecting area in an upward or downward direction or rightward or leftward direction at a period of the vertical synchronizing signal (V-sync) and to move the position of said detecting area in such direction that a difference of the luminance between inside and outside of said detecting area is increased.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein said movement detecting means is arranged to move said detecting area in an upward or downward direction or rightward or leftward direction and to move the position of said detecting area in such direction that a level of a high frequency component in the image signal corresponding to an inside of said detecting area is increased.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein said detecting means is arranged to output a luminance signal level at an outside of said detecting area, in addition to a luminance signal level at an inside of said detecting area, and further comprising exposure compensating means which is arranged to evaluate the luminance signal level at the inside of said detecting area and the luminance signal level at the outside of said detecting area, to discriminate an object photographing state and to compensate said exposure control information on the basis of information of the discrimination.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein said exposure control means includes an iris.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein said exposure control means includes an electronic shutter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
160 words
An image processing method, comprising: (A) photoelectrically converting step of an image of an object into an image signal and outputting said image signal; (B) extracting step of extracting a predetermined component of the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in a picture plane; (C) detecting step of detecting a movement of the image of the object in said picture plane in synchronism with a clock signal; (D) control step of setting said detecting area at an approximately central portion of said picture plane in an initial state, to change the set position of said detecting area in said picture plane in every n times the clock signal on the basis of an output generated in said detecting step; and (E) exposure control step of outputting exposure control information, in synchronism with the clock signal on the basis of an output of said extracting step and to controlling the diaphragm on the basis of said exposure control information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
160 words
An image processing method, comprising: (A) photoelectrically converting step of an image of an object into an image signal and outputting said image signal; (B) extracting step of extracting a predetermined component of the image signal corresponding to a detecting area set in a picture plane; (C) detecting step of detecting a movement of the image of the object in said picture plane in synchronism with a clock signal; (D) control step of setting said detecting area at an approximately central portion of said picture plane in an initial state, to change the set position of said detecting area in said picture plane in every n times the clock signal on the basis of an output generated in said detecting step; and (E) exposure control step of outputting exposure control information, in synchronism with the clock signal on the basis of an output of said extracting step and to controlling the diaphragm on the basis of said exposure control information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 22, in said detecting step, said detecting area is moved in an upward or downward direction or rightward or leftward direction at a period of the clock and to move the position of said detecting area in such direction that a luminance difference in said detecting area is increased.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method according to claim 22, in said extracting step a luminance signal level at an outside of said detecting area is output and in addition to a luminance signal level at an inside of said detecting area is output, and further comprising exposure computing step including exposure compensating step which evaluates the luminance signal level at the inside of said detecting area and the luminance signal level at the outside of said detecting area, to discriminate a photographing state of the object and to compensate said exposure control information on the basis of information of the discrimination.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein said clock signal is a vertical synchronizing signal (V-sync).
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) | 2003-09-26 | 2004-03-27 | 2004-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-26 | 2008-03-27 | 2008-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-26 | 2012-03-27 | 2012-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |