US6480226B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image pickup apparatus having gradation control function for providing image signals definitive of backlighted objects
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-04-18
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Granted: 2002-11-12
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Expires: 2015-04-18
Abstract
Abstract An image pickup apparatus which can produce an image provided with exposure suitable for both a backlighted object and its background without requiring a mechanical member, such as an iris or the like. The image pickup apparatus has a photoelectric conversion section for photoelectrically converting a light image so as to accumulate light information and to output the light information every unit light accumulation period which forms one picture. A digital camera signal processing circuit processes an output from the photoelectric conversion section to output a video signal. A timing signal generator outputs a plurality of timing signals for setting light information accumulation time every unit light accumulation period which is set in the photoelectric conversion section. An image analyzing circuit selects one of the timing signals output from the timing signal generator correspondingly with higher luminance and lower luminance regions based on luminance information from the digital camera signal processing circuit and inputs the selected timing signal into the photoelectric conversion section.
Inventors
- 👤 Koji Takahashi
- 👤 Kenji Kyuma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/73; H04N23/76; H04N25/00; H04N25/10; H04N25/11; H04N25/13; H04N25/133; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/15; H10F39/151; H10F39/1515; H10F39/153; H10F39/1532; H10F39/1534; H10F39/1536
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) an image pickup which converts an optical image into an electrical image signal; (b) a drive unit which operates to cause said image pickup to form a first image signal of a given photographic scene having a first accumulation time and to form a subsequent second image signal of the same photographic scene having a second accumulation time different from the first accumulation time; (c) a first accumulation time control unit which adjusts the first accumulation time on the basis of the first image signal; (d) a second accumulation time control unit which adjusts the second accumulation time on the basis of the second image signal subsequent to said first image signal; (e) a combining device which combines said first image signal of which first accumulation time is adjusted by said first accumulation time control unit, and said subsequent second image signal of which second accumulation time is adjusted by said second accumulation time control unit, to form a gradation controlled single image; and (f) an image signal analyzing circuit which analyzes said image signal and controls said first and second accumulation time control units.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) an image pickup which converts an optical image into an electrical image signal; (b) a drive unit which operates to cause said image pickup to form a first image signal of a given photographic scene having a first accumulation time and to form a subsequent second image signal of the same photographic scene having a second accumulation time different from the first accumulation time; (c) a first accumulation time control unit which adjusts the first accumulation time on the basis of the first image signal; (d) a second accumulation time control unit which adjusts the second accumulation time on the basis of the second image signal subsequent to said first image signal; (e) a combining device which combines said first image signal of which first accumulation time is adjusted by said first accumulation time control unit, and said subsequent second image signal of which second accumulation time is adjusted by said second accumulation time control unit, to form a gradation controlled single image; and (f) an image signal analyzing circuit which analyzes said image signal and controls said first and second accumulation time control units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said image pickup has a single image pickup element, and said drive unit forms the first and second image signals by using said single image pickup element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
220 words
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) an image pickup which converts an optical image into an electrical image signal; (b) a drive unit which operates in the course of the making of an individual object picture and causes said image pickup to form a first image signal having a first accumulation time and to form a subsequent second image signal having a second accumulation time different from the first accumulation time; (c) a first accumulation time control unit which adjusts the first accumulation time on the basis of the first image signal; (d) a second accumulation time control unit which adjusts the second accumulation time on the basis of the second image signal subsequent to said first image signal, wherein said image pickup has a plurality of separate image pickup elements and wherein the first and second image signals are formed from respective different image pickup elements; (e) a combining device which combines said first image signal of which first accumulation time is adjusted by said first accumulation time control unit, and said subsequent second image signal of which second accumulation time is adjusted by said second accumulation time control unit, to form a gradation controlled single image; and (f) an image signal analyzing circuit which analyzes said image signal and controls said first and second accumulation time control units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
220 words
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) an image pickup which converts an optical image into an electrical image signal; (b) a drive unit which operates in the course of the making of an individual object picture and causes said image pickup to form a first image signal having a first accumulation time and to form a subsequent second image signal having a second accumulation time different from the first accumulation time; (c) a first accumulation time control unit which adjusts the first accumulation time on the basis of the first image signal; (d) a second accumulation time control unit which adjusts the second accumulation time on the basis of the second image signal subsequent to said first image signal, wherein said image pickup has a plurality of separate image pickup elements and wherein the first and second image signals are formed from respective different image pickup elements; (e) a combining device which combines said first image signal of which first accumulation time is adjusted by said first accumulation time control unit, and said subsequent second image signal of which second accumulation time is adjusted by said second accumulation time control unit, to form a gradation controlled single image; and (f) an image signal analyzing circuit which analyzes said image signal and controls said first and second accumulation time control units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
203 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) an image pickup which converts an optical image into an electrical image signal; (b) a drive unit which operates in the course of the making of an individual object picture and causes said image pickup to form a first image signal of a given photographic scene having a first exposure condition and to form a subsequent second image signal of the same photographic scene having a second exposure condition different from the first exposure condition; (c) a first exposure condition control unit which adjusts the first exposure condition on the basis of the first image signal; (d) a second exposure condition control unit which adjusts the second exposure condition on the basis of the second image signal subsequent to said first image signal; (e) a combining device which combines said first image signal of which first exposure condition is adjusted by said first exposure condition control unit, and said subsequent second image signal of which second exposure condition is adjusted by said second exposure condition control unit, to form a gradation controlled single image; and (f) an image signal analyzing circuit which analyzes said image signal and which controls said first and second exposure condition control units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
203 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) an image pickup which converts an optical image into an electrical image signal; (b) a drive unit which operates in the course of the making of an individual object picture and causes said image pickup to form a first image signal of a given photographic scene having a first exposure condition and to form a subsequent second image signal of the same photographic scene having a second exposure condition different from the first exposure condition; (c) a first exposure condition control unit which adjusts the first exposure condition on the basis of the first image signal; (d) a second exposure condition control unit which adjusts the second exposure condition on the basis of the second image signal subsequent to said first image signal; (e) a combining device which combines said first image signal of which first exposure condition is adjusted by said first exposure condition control unit, and said subsequent second image signal of which second exposure condition is adjusted by said second exposure condition control unit, to form a gradation controlled single image; and (f) an image signal analyzing circuit which analyzes said image signal and which controls said first and second exposure condition control units.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said image pickup has a single image pickup element, and said drive unit forms the first and second image signals by using said single image pickup element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second exposure conditions includes accumulation time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
239 words
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) an image pickup which converts an optical image into an electrical image signal; (b) a drive unit which operates in the course of the making of an individual object picture and causes said image pickup to form a first image signal of a given photographic scene having a first accumulation time and to form a subsequent second image signal of the same photographic scene having a second accumulation time different from the first accumulation time; (c) a first accumulation time control unit which adjusts the first accumulation time on the basis of the first image signal; (d) a second accumulation time control unit which adjusts the second accumulation time on the basis of the second image signal subsequent to said first image signal, wherein said image pickup has a plurality of separate image pickup areas within a light sensing surface of said image pickup and wherein the first and second image signals are formed from respective different image pickup areas; (e) a combining device which combines said first image signal of which first accumulation time is adjusted by said first accumulation time control unit, and said subsequent second image signal of which second accumulation time is adjusted by said second accumulation time control unit, to form a gradation controlled single image; and (f) an image signal analyzing circuit which analyzes said image signal and controls said first and second accumulation time control units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
239 words
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) an image pickup which converts an optical image into an electrical image signal; (b) a drive unit which operates in the course of the making of an individual object picture and causes said image pickup to form a first image signal of a given photographic scene having a first accumulation time and to form a subsequent second image signal of the same photographic scene having a second accumulation time different from the first accumulation time; (c) a first accumulation time control unit which adjusts the first accumulation time on the basis of the first image signal; (d) a second accumulation time control unit which adjusts the second accumulation time on the basis of the second image signal subsequent to said first image signal, wherein said image pickup has a plurality of separate image pickup areas within a light sensing surface of said image pickup and wherein the first and second image signals are formed from respective different image pickup areas; (e) a combining device which combines said first image signal of which first accumulation time is adjusted by said first accumulation time control unit, and said subsequent second image signal of which second accumulation time is adjusted by said second accumulation time control unit, to form a gradation controlled single image; and (f) an image signal analyzing circuit which analyzes said image signal and controls said first and second accumulation time control units.
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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) | 2005-11-11 | 2006-05-13 | 2006-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-11 | 2010-05-13 | 2010-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-11 | 2014-05-13 | 2014-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |