US8035721B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Imaging apparatus
Assignee: Panasonic Corp
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Filing: 2005-08-02
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Granted: 2011-10-11
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Expires: 2025-08-02
Abstract
Abstract An imaging apparatus has an image sensor that captures the optical image of an object formed by an imaging optical system and converts the optical image into the electrical still image signal, a signal processor for dividing a representation of the image signal into a plurality of areas, and for determining a color characteristic for each area of the plurality of areas, the color characteristic consisting of a hue and/or chroma saturation, a selector for selecting at least one area of the plurality of area for which its respective color characteristic substantially corresponds to a preset color characteristic, and a focus controller for determining focus parameters of the imaging apparatus for the selected area and generating a focus control signal for adjusting the image optical system based on the focus parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenichi Honjo
- 👤 Mitsuyoshi Okamoto
- 👤 Minori Sato
- 👤 Kenji Maeda
- 👤 Seiichi Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N23/635; H04N23/67; H04N23/673; H04N23/80; H04N23/84
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: an image sensor that captures the optical image of an object formed by an imaging optical system and converts the optical image into the electrical still image signal; a signal processor for dividing a representation of the image signal into a plurality of areas, and for determining a color characteristic for each area of the plurality of areas, the color characteristic consisting of a hue and/or chroma saturation; an operation portion for receiving an instruction from a user; a controller for setting a preset color characteristic based on the color characteristic of at least one area of the plurality of areas in response to an operation of the operation portion; a selector for selecting at least one area of the plurality of areas for which its respective color characteristic substantially corresponds to a preset color characteristic which was previously set by the controller; an image processor including a corrector that corrects the image signal outputted by the image sensor based on the preset color characteristic; and a focus controller for determining focus parameters of the imaging apparatus only for the at least one area selected by the selector and generating a focus control signal for adjusting the image optical system based on the focus parameters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: an image sensor that captures the optical image of an object formed by an imaging optical system and converts the optical image into the electrical still image signal; a signal processor for dividing a representation of the image signal into a plurality of areas, and for determining a color characteristic for each area of the plurality of areas, the color characteristic consisting of a hue and/or chroma saturation; an operation portion for receiving an instruction from a user; a controller for setting a preset color characteristic based on the color characteristic of at least one area of the plurality of areas in response to an operation of the operation portion; a selector for selecting at least one area of the plurality of areas for which its respective color characteristic substantially corresponds to a preset color characteristic which was previously set by the controller; an image processor including a corrector that corrects the image signal outputted by the image sensor based on the preset color characteristic; and a focus controller for determining focus parameters of the imaging apparatus only for the at least one area selected by the selector and generating a focus control signal for adjusting the image optical system based on the focus parameters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the preset color characteristic corresponds to a representation of an image previously analyzed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an information storage that stores a plurality of pieces of preset color characteristic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising a display portion that displays the plurality of pieces of preset color characteristic stored in the information storage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an information storage that stores a plurality of pieces of preset color characteristic and an image signal for displaying an image associated with the preset color characteristic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a display portion that displays at least one of an image based on the image signal stored in the information storage and the plurality of pieces of preset color characteristic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a lens driver for driving the focusing lens unit in a direction of an optical axis based on the focus control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
209 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: an image sensor that captures the optical image of an object formed by an imaging optical system and converts the optical image into the electrical moving image signal; a signal processor for dividing a representation of the image signal into a plurality of areas, and for determining a color characteristic for each area of the plurality of areas, the color characteristic consisting of a hue and/or chroma saturation; an operation portion for receiving an instruction from a user; a controller for setting a preset color characteristic based on the color characteristic of at least one area of the plurality of areas in response to an operation of the operation portion; a selector for selecting at least one area of the plurality of areas for which its respective color characteristic substantially corresponds to a preset color characteristic which was previously set by the controller; an image processor including a corrector that corrects the image signal outputted by the image sensor based on the preset color characteristic; and a focus controller for determining focus parameters of the imaging apparatus only for the at least one area selected by the selector and generating a focus control signal for adjusting the image optical system based on the focus parameters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
209 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: an image sensor that captures the optical image of an object formed by an imaging optical system and converts the optical image into the electrical moving image signal; a signal processor for dividing a representation of the image signal into a plurality of areas, and for determining a color characteristic for each area of the plurality of areas, the color characteristic consisting of a hue and/or chroma saturation; an operation portion for receiving an instruction from a user; a controller for setting a preset color characteristic based on the color characteristic of at least one area of the plurality of areas in response to an operation of the operation portion; a selector for selecting at least one area of the plurality of areas for which its respective color characteristic substantially corresponds to a preset color characteristic which was previously set by the controller; an image processor including a corrector that corrects the image signal outputted by the image sensor based on the preset color characteristic; and a focus controller for determining focus parameters of the imaging apparatus only for the at least one area selected by the selector and generating a focus control signal for adjusting the image optical system based on the focus parameters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a lens driver for driving the focusing lens unit in a direction of an optical axis based on the focus control signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for controlling focus adjustment of an imaging apparatus comprising: a signal processor for dividing a representation of an image signal into a plurality of areas, and for determining a color characteristic for each area of the plurality of areas, the color characteristic consisting of a hue and/or chroma saturation; an operation portion for receiving an instruction from a user; a controller for setting a preset color characteristic based on the color characteristic of at least one area of the plurality of areas in response to an operation of the operation portion; a selector for selecting at least one area of the plurality of areas for which its respective color characteristic substantially corresponds to a preset color characteristic which was previously set by the controller; an image processor including a corrector that corrects the image signal outputted by the image sensor based on the preset color characteristic; and a focus controller for determining focus parameters of the imaging apparatus only for the at least one area selected by the selector and generating a focus control signal for adjusting the image optical system based on the focus parameters.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for controlling focus adjustment of an imaging apparatus comprising: a signal processor for dividing a representation of an image signal into a plurality of areas, and for determining a color characteristic for each area of the plurality of areas, the color characteristic consisting of a hue and/or chroma saturation; an operation portion for receiving an instruction from a user; a controller for setting a preset color characteristic based on the color characteristic of at least one area of the plurality of areas in response to an operation of the operation portion; a selector for selecting at least one area of the plurality of areas for which its respective color characteristic substantially corresponds to a preset color characteristic which was previously set by the controller; an image processor including a corrector that corrects the image signal outputted by the image sensor based on the preset color characteristic; and a focus controller for determining focus parameters of the imaging apparatus only for the at least one area selected by the selector and generating a focus control signal for adjusting the image optical system based on the focus parameters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising a lens driver for driving the focusing lens unit in a direction of an optical axis based on the focus control signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for controlling focusing of an imaging apparatus comprising: receiving an instruction from a user; setting a preset color characteristic based on the received instruction; dividing a representation of an image into a plurality of areas; calculating color characteristic from the representation for each area of the plurality of areas, the color characteristic consisting of a hue and/or chroma saturation; comparing respective color characteristic calculated for each area of the plurality of areas with a preset color characteristic which was previously set; determining at least one area of the plurality of areas for which respective color information substantially corresponds to preset color characteristic based on results of comparison; correcting the image signal outputted by the image sensor based on the preset color characteristic; determining focus parameters of an imaging optical system only for the at least one area determined in the step of determining at least one area; and generating a focus control signal for focus adjustment of the imaging apparatus.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for controlling focusing of an imaging apparatus comprising: receiving an instruction from a user; setting a preset color characteristic based on the received instruction; dividing a representation of an image into a plurality of areas; calculating color characteristic from the representation for each area of the plurality of areas, the color characteristic consisting of a hue and/or chroma saturation; comparing respective color characteristic calculated for each area of the plurality of areas with a preset color characteristic which was previously set; determining at least one area of the plurality of areas for which respective color information substantially corresponds to preset color characteristic based on results of comparison; correcting the image signal outputted by the image sensor based on the preset color characteristic; determining focus parameters of an imaging optical system only for the at least one area determined in the step of determining at least one area; and generating a focus control signal for focus adjustment of the imaging apparatus.
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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) | 2014-10-10 | 2015-04-11 | 2015-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2018-10-10 | 2019-04-11 | 2019-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2022-10-10 | 2023-04-11 | 2023-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |