Patent US6407771B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6407771B1
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Camera having an image shift detecting function
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1995-08-08
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Granted: 2002-06-18
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Expires: 2015-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A camera having an image shift detecting function is provided with an optical system which forms a subject image, an image sensing device which converts light of the subject image into an electric signal, an image shift detecting sensor which detects a relative shift between the camera and the subject image based on an output of the image sensing device and a microcomputer which compensates for the relative shift between the camera and the subject image based on an image shift amount detected by the image shift detecting sensor. The microcomputer specifies an area of the image sensing device based on a direction of luminance variation of the subject image and the image shift detection is made by using only an output corresponding to the specified area.
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsuro Kanbara
- 👤 Yoshihiro Hara
- 👤 Keiji Tamai
- 👤 Kohtaro Hayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/68; H04N23/681; H04N23/6811; H04N23/682; H04N23/685; H04N23/687
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A camera having an image shift detecting function, comprising: an optical system which forms a subject image; an image sensing device which receives the subject image formed by the optical system to convert the subject image into an electric signal; image shift detecting means for detecting a relative movement between a camera body and a subject based on an output of the image sensing device; luminance variation detecting means for detecting luminance variation among different positions within a given subject image, said luminance variation being detected in each of two transverse directions within said given image, based on the output of the image sensing device, and for comparing relative rates of change of the luminance in each of said two transverse directions; selecting means for selecting one partial area of the image sensing device that corresponds to an area of the given image having a relatively high rate of change of luminance in both of said two transverse directions, based on an output of the luminance variation detecting means; and controlling means for controlling the image shift detecting means to detect an image shift by using only an output corresponding to the partial area of the image sensing device selected by the selecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A camera having an image shift detecting function, comprising: an optical system which forms a subject image; an image sensing device which receives the subject image formed by the optical system to convert the subject image into an electric signal; image shift detecting means for detecting a relative movement between a camera body and a subject based on an output of the image sensing device; luminance variation detecting means for detecting luminance variation among different positions within a given subject image, said luminance variation being detected in each of two transverse directions within said given image, based on the output of the image sensing device, and for comparing relative rates of change of the luminance in each of said two transverse directions; selecting means for selecting one partial area of the image sensing device that corresponds to an area of the given image having a relatively high rate of change of luminance in both of said two transverse directions, based on an output of the luminance variation detecting means; and controlling means for controlling the image shift detecting means to detect an image shift by using only an output corresponding to the partial area of the image sensing device selected by the selecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising compensating means for compensating for the relative movement between the camera body and the subject based on an output of the image shift detecting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said image sensing device is an area sensor having its light receiving surface divided into a plurality blocks including a predetermined number of pixels, and wherein said luminance variation detecting means detects the direction of luminance variation for each of said blocks, and wherein said selecting means selects at least one of the plurality of blocks based on the output of the luminance variation detecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A camera as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said luminance variation detecting means comprises: self-correlation means for, in a first area of said area sensor and in a second area including the first area and larger than the first area, shifting outputs corresponding to the areas by predetermined pixels to detect a degree of correlation; and discriminating means for discriminating the luminance variation of the subject image based on an output of said self-correlation means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The camera of claim 1 wherein said luminance variation detecting means compares said relative rates of change by determining the slopes of the change of luminance in each of said two directions, and detecting an angle of intersection between the two slopes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The camera of claim 5 wherein one of the factors employed by said selecting means in the selection of said partial area is whether said angle of intersection is closer to 90° in the selected area than in other areas of the image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The camera of claim 6 wherein another factor employed by said selecting means is whether the luminance variation in said two directions is higher in the selected area than in other areas of the image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
A camera having an image shift detecting function, comprising: an optical system which forms a subject image; an image sensing device which receives the subject image formed by the optical system to convert the subject image into an electric signal; image shift detecting means for detecting a relative movement between a camera body and a subject based on an output of the image sensing device; contrast detecting means for detecting contrast between different positions in a given subject image, in each of two transverse directions, based on the output of the image sensing device; selecting means for selecting one partial area of the image sensing device that corresponds to an area of the given image having high contrast in each of said two transverse directions, relative to the detected contrast in other areas of the image sensing device; and controlling means for controlling the image shift detecting means to detect an image shift by using only an output corresponding to said one partial area of the image sensing device selected by the selecting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
A camera having an image shift detecting function, comprising: an optical system which forms a subject image; an image sensing device which receives the subject image formed by the optical system to convert the subject image into an electric signal; image shift detecting means for detecting a relative movement between a camera body and a subject based on an output of the image sensing device; contrast detecting means for detecting contrast between different positions in a given subject image, in each of two transverse directions, based on the output of the image sensing device; selecting means for selecting one partial area of the image sensing device that corresponds to an area of the given image having high contrast in each of said two transverse directions, relative to the detected contrast in other areas of the image sensing device; and controlling means for controlling the image shift detecting means to detect an image shift by using only an output corresponding to said one partial area of the image sensing device selected by the selecting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising compensating means for compensating for the relative movement between the camera body and the subject based on an output of the image shift detecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A camera as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said image sensing device is an area sensor having its light receiving surface divided into a plurality blocks including a predetermined number of pixels, and wherein said contrast detecting means detects the contrast for each of said blocks, and wherein said selecting means selects at least one of the plurality of blocks based on the output of the contrast detecting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
A camera as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said contrast detecting means comprising: self-correlation means for, in a first area of said area sensor and in a second area including the first area and larger than the first area, shifting outputs corresponding to the areas by predetermined pixels to detect a degree of correlation; and discriminating means for discriminating the contrast of the subject image based on an output of said self-correlation means.
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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) | 2005-06-17 | 2005-12-17 | 2006-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-17 | 2009-12-17 | 2010-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-17 | 2013-12-17 | 2014-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |