Exposure Control Circuit With Illumination Mode Patents (Class 396/166)
  • Patent number: 11614322
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging system including a camera and a control host. The camera identifies ambient light intensity and performs trigger event detection in a low power mode. When the camera detects a trigger event in the low power mode, the control host is woken up. The camera also determines an exposure mode according the ambient light intensity and informs the exposure mode to the control host such that an operating mode of the control host after being woken up matches the exposure mode of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Wen-Han Yao, Wen-Cheng Yen, Han-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 11595564
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new universal control interface for cameras and other audio-visual recording/using instruments, and more specifically a multi-axis visual interface for simultaneous display and control of aperture (Av), shutter speed (Tv), ISO, and/or other parameters like exposure value (EV). The invention relates to either a triangular, rectangle or clover shape interface where the parameters are visually represented on one of the axis, side or branch of the interface and where the user instead of altering the parameters, will provide intention such as (a) depth-of field, (b) motion blur, (c) granularity, or the composite (d) exposure. The invention further describes how in some cases, one or more of these parameters can be locked or not available based on the technology used for the delay and control interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Christophe Seyve
  • Patent number: 9766125
    Abstract: A spectrometry apparatus includes a light incident section on which incident light from an image pickup target is made incident, an image pickup section provided on an optical path of the incident light input from the light incident section, a variable wavelength interference filter configured to transmit light having a predetermined wavelength from the incident light input from the light incident section and capable of changing the wavelength of the light to be transmitted, and a filter-position switching section configured to advance and retract the variable wavelength interference filter to and from an optical path of the incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsugio Gomi
  • Patent number: 9648245
    Abstract: An image capture method includes performing light metering with respect to a subject in response to a first control signal, setting an ISO value and a shutter speed value based on result of the light metering, increasing the ISO value by a first amount and decreasing the shutter speed value by a second amount in response to a second control signal to capture a plurality of images, where the second amount is greater than the first amount, performing gamma correction with respect to the plurality of images to increase brightness of each image, and synthesizing the plurality of gamma corrected images to obtain a single image with improved brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Yun Lee, Su Gon Baek, Yi Lee Seo
  • Patent number: 9442195
    Abstract: A time of flight camera device comprises an light source for illuminating an environment including an object with light of a first wavelength; an image sensor for measuring time the light has taken to travel from the light source to the object and back; optics for gathering reflected light from the object and imaging the environment onto the image sensor; driver electronics for controlling the light source with a high speed signal at a clock frequency; and a controller for calculating the distance between the object and the illumination unit. To minimize power consumption and resulting heat dissipation requirements, the light source/driver electronics are operated at their resonant frequency. Ideally, the driver electronics includes a reactance adjuster for changing a resonant frequency of the illumination unit and driver electronics system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: An-Chun Tien, Lucas Morales, Vincent V. Wong
  • Patent number: 9377624
    Abstract: Reducing light damage in a shutterless imaging device includes receiving a signal from a hardware device and analyzing the signal to predict a use demand of the shutterless imaging device. In response to the analysis of the signal from the hardware device, a lens of the shutterless imaging device is adjusted. Adjusting the lens spreads out energy of far-field image light incident on an image sensor of the shutterless imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel R. D'Amico, Xiaoyu Miao
  • Patent number: 9325912
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including circuitry configured to cause an aperture diaphragm to move from a starting position toward first and second diaphragm positions of the aperture diaphragm such that the aperture diaphragm reaches the first diaphragm position at the beginning of an exposure period. The circuitry is further configured to cause the aperture diaphragm to move from the first diaphragm position to the second diaphragm position during the exposure period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Syouei Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 9311751
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed that relate to the presentation of images of shadows cast over a real-world background by images of objects displayed on a see-through display. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of operating a display device having a see-through display screen. The method comprises displaying on the see-through display screen an image of an object, and while displaying the image of the object, displaying an image of a shadow cast by the object onto the background scene by acquiring an image of a background scene, determining a location of the shadow in the image of the background scene, rendering an enhanced image of the background scene by increasing a relative brightness in a region adjacent to the shadow compared to a brightness within the shadow, and displaying the enhanced image of the background scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Mathew Lamb
  • Patent number: 9036078
    Abstract: A method of reducing light damage in a shutterless imaging device includes receiving a signal from a hardware device. The signal from the hardware devices is analyzed. In response to the analysis of the signal from the hardware device, a lens of the shutterless imaging device is adjusted. Adjusting the lens spreads out energy of far-field image light incident on an image sensor of the shutterless imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel R. D'Amico, Xiaoyu Miao
  • Patent number: 9008497
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of generating a strobe emission signal in a proper timing even when an electronic front curtain shutter is used in strobe photographing. The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device having pixels arranged in matrix and configured to store charges generated according to a received amount of light. A vertical scanning circuit controls travel of the electronic front curtain shutter such that the image pickup device sequentially receives light on a per line basis, starting from a first scan line. When it is detected that the electronic front curtain shutter reaches a predetermined scan line, a NOR gate outputs a light emission timing signal, whereby light is emitted from a light emission unit such as a strobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Ariga
  • Patent number: 8804029
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern controlling a variable flash to improve image detection. One example apparatus includes a digital camera and a variable flash configured to be controllable to operate at different selected illumination levels. The apparatus may be configured to identify a current imaging condition associated with the digital camera and to then determine a lux setting for the variable flash as a function of the current imaging condition. The flash may then be controlled as a function of the lux setting for subsequent image acquisition. The acquisition, analysis, and flash control may be exercised until a desired illumination is achieved. In one embodiment, determining the current imaging condition may include analyzing a frame acquired from the digital camera for attributes including image brightness, and edge detectability. In one embodiment, input from a light sensor may also be considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventors: Shawn M. Brown, John A. Yovin
  • Publication number: 20140178059
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus that uses luminance information obtained through a test flash by a flash unit for illuminating a subject to determine a flash quantity of a flash unit for main photographing sets exposure conditions for the test flash based on exposure conditions for the main photographing. The imaging apparatus changes a predetermined test flash quantity for the test flash to compensate a difference between the set exposure conditions and predetermined initial values of exposure conditions for the test flash and performs the test flash based on the set exposure conditions and the changed test flash quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8743273
    Abstract: A row scanning unit activates a synchronous curtain shutter mode in which pixel reset scan is performed and exposure of the imaging area is started by the pixel reset scan and is ended by light shielding by a mechanical curtain shutter, the pixel reset scan meaning that scan on a row-by-row basis is performed on pixel reset in which the photodiodes are reset by turning on the transfer transistors and a corresponding reset transistor, wherein in the mechanical curtain synchronous shutter mode, the pixel reset scan according to the traveling characteristics of the mechanical curtain shutter is performed, and the pixel reset scan includes performing a pixel reset operation simultaneously on the unit cells of different rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Kyogoku
  • Patent number: 8498530
    Abstract: A detection apparatus determines whether an output of the light-receiving unit meets a predetermined reference level when the light emission amount of the light-emitting unit is changed, under a condition that the output of the light-receiving unit changes according to a change in a light emission amount of the light-emitting unit. The detection apparatus detects, based on the output from the light-receiving unit, that the light emitted from the light-emitting unit to the light-receiving unit is blocked, under a condition that the light-emitting unit is emitting light based on a light emission amount emitted from the light-emitting unit when it has been determined that the output of the light-receiving unit meets the predetermined reference level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Horii
  • Patent number: 8467673
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of imaging using an illumination apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire object luminance information, a calculation unit configured to calculate an exposure control value based on the object luminance information acquired by the acquisition unit, an exposure control unit configured to control exposure using the exposure control value calculated by the calculation unit, and an exposure fixing unit configured to set an exposure fixed state in which the exposure control value calculated by the calculation unit is fixed as the exposure control value to be used for exposure control, wherein the exposure fixing unit is configured to cancel the exposure fixed state when a state of the illumination apparatus is changed in the exposure fixed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Yano
  • Patent number: 8385735
    Abstract: An illumination device for a camera includes a light source, in which LED chips are supplied with a drive current, for emitting light of a first color at intensity according to the drive current. An encapsulant is disposed in front of each LED chip, for changing an illuminating color of the light. An EEPROM stores a data table for representing a correlation between the illuminating color and the drive current. An illumination control unit obtains first drive current associated with a target color of light for use by referring to the data table, to drive the LED chips with the first drive current. Phosphor in the encapsulant sets color temperature of the light lower upon passage through the encapsulant than upon emission from the LED chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kouhei Awazu
  • Patent number: 8345151
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a distribution detection unit configured to detect whether a luminance distribution on the screen changes to a hill-shaped form, based on a result of adding photometric values of each of divided photometry areas by rows and by columns, a difference calculation unit configured to calculate a luminance value difference between one portion of the screen and the peripheral portion thereof, a ratio calculating unit configured to calculate a ratio of pixels having a luminance value higher than or equal to a threshold value in the one portion, and a spotlight determination unit configured to determine whether a scene of the captured image is a spotlight scene according to a detection result of the distribution detection unit, calculation result of the difference calculation unit, and a calculation result of the ratio calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8164684
    Abstract: If an electronic camera is set in an image-capturing sensitivity automatic control mode, a program autoexposure calculation is executed based upon the subject brightness and the image-capturing sensitivity setting to determine a control aperture value and a control shutter speed. If the correct exposure is not achieved, a control exposure sensitivity is calculated based upon the exposure deviation and the image-capturing sensitivity setting is adjusted accordingly. If an internal flash unit or an external flash unit is utilized, an autoexposure calculation is executed by using the flash unit synchronizing speed, the subject brightness and the image-capturing sensitivity setting to determine the control aperture value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20110293257
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of generating a strobe emission signal in a proper timing even when an electronic front curtain shutter is used in strobe photographing. The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device having pixels arranged in matrix and configured to store charges generated according to a received amount of light. A vertical scanning circuit controls travel of the electronic front curtain shutter such that the image pickup device sequentially receives light on a per line basis, starting from a first scan line. When it is detected that the electronic front curtain shutter reaches a predetermined scan line, a NOR gate outputs a light emission timing signal, whereby light is emitted from a light emission unit such as a strobe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Ariga
  • Patent number: 8059189
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus performs photographing multiple times and composing these multiple images to obtain one image of a correct exposure. The apparatus includes an image capturing unit, an illumination unit and an image composition unit. The image capturing unit captures an optical image of an object as an electrical signal. The illumination unit performs illumination on photographing by the image capturing unit. The image composition unit composes multiple images obtained by multiple times of photographing by the image capturing unit. All of the multiple images are the images shot by performing illumination with the illumination unit. A light amount of each photographing in multiple times of photographing by performing illumination with the illumination unit is obtained by dividing light amount required for the correct exposure based on the number of photos taken of an image to be composed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukio Odaka
  • Patent number: 8031261
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus detects a face region out of an image signal representative of a field picked up by an image pickup device, and compares the lightness of the face region or a person region with the lightness of a background region also included in the image signal to thereby determine whether or not a subject is backlit. The apparatus causes, if the subject is backlit, the image pickup apparatus to execute actual pickup with backlight correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Coporation
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Izawa, Masahiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7974529
    Abstract: A digital camera is provided with a special successive shooting mode wherein an imaging device makes a series of successive shots upon each shutter release operation, including at least a non-flash shot and at least a flash shot. When a shutter button is pressed halfway in the successive shooting mode, an exposure condition deciding device decides an exposure condition common to the non-flash and flash shots, or individual exposure conditions for the non-flash shot and the flash shot. When the shutter button is fully pressed, the imaging device starts the successive shots of one series. Images captured by the non-flash shot and the flash shot are displayed on an LCD panel. Before the imaging device starts the successive shots, necessary warning marks are displayed together with the exposure conditions decided by the exposure condition deciding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiro Koguchi, Toru Ueda, Makoto Okada, Mitsuru Kamijo, Yuuki Okabe
  • Patent number: 7929854
    Abstract: An illumination device for photography includes: a light emission unit that emits illumination light towards a photographic subject; and a control unit that performs control so as to change a light emission luminance of the light emission unit within an exposure time period that is set to the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Itaru Homma
  • Patent number: 7859573
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for image exposure include capturing a first image under a first illumination condition, determining a luminance of the first image at a plurality of sectors, capturing a second image under a second illumination condition employing an artificial light source, determining a luminance of the second image at the plurality of sectors, and determining if the artificial light source should be used to capture a final image using the luminances of the first and second images at the plurality of sectors. If the artificial light source is to be used, an output level of the light source is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Subbotin, Ilia Ovsiannikov
  • Publication number: 20100272425
    Abstract: An imaging device equipped with an imaging system includes an imaging lens optical system which images an object, a flash emitting unit which synchronizes imaging in the imaging system to emit a flash having not less than a prescribed luminance in a charged state not less than a prescribed charged state by power to be charged, and a control unit which determines a charging amount of the charged state of the flash emitting unit and which controls imaging to be performed by using the flash emitting unit with an imaging sensitivity of the imaging lens optical system set in accordance with the charging amount of the charged state in imaging by the imaging lens optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazunori YANAGI
  • Patent number: 7813637
    Abstract: A digital camera is provided with a special successive shooting mode wherein an imaging device makes a series of successive shots upon each shutter release operation, including at least a non-flash shot and at least a flash shot. When a shutter button is pressed halfway in the successive shooting mode, an exposure condition deciding device decides an exposure condition common to the non-flash and flash shots, or individual exposure conditions for the non-flash shot and the flash shot. When the shutter button is fully pressed, the imaging device starts the successive shots of one series. Images captured by the non-flash shot and the flash shot are displayed on an LCD panel. Before the imaging device starts the successive shots, necessary warning marks are displayed together with the exposure conditions decided by the exposure condition deciding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiro Koguchi, Toru Ueda, Makoto Okada, Mitsuru Kamijo, Yuuki Okabe
  • Patent number: 7801437
    Abstract: An imaging device that controls strobe emission for red-eye prevention includes a face detector configured to detect whether a face region is included in an image captured by the imaging device; a luminance detector configured to detect a luminance representing a brightness of an imaging environment; and a red-eye preventing emission controller configured to control strobe emission for red-eye prevention on the basis of face detection information detected by the face detector and luminance information detected by the luminance detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsukasa Kirisawa, Takahiro Toujou
  • Patent number: 7796831
    Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a face detection means, an AE&AWB detection circuit, and a processor. The face detection means detects a face from an input image signal and extracts a facial region comprising the face and an upper body region. The AE&AWB detection circuit calculates a brightness appraisal amount on the basis of brightness of the facial region and the upper body region extracted by the face detection circuit. The processor calculates an exposure amount on the basis of the brightness appraisal amount calculated by the AE&AWB detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20100201866
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus may include an imaging device which captures an image of a subject using an illumination apparatus that operates using alternating current (AC) power, and a shutter speed derivation unit which derives at least one shutter speed that is n/2 times a reciprocal of the frequency at which the illumination apparatus operates when the frequency at which the illumination apparatus operates is not n/2 times the frame rate of the imaging device, according to a result of comparing the frequency at which the illumination apparatus operates and the frame rate of the imaging device. When using the digital photographing apparatus to photograph, frequency information of the illumination apparatus may be easily obtained and flicker may be prevented by using the frequency information to set the shutter speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Digital Imaging Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-hyo Jung, Yong-gi Kim
  • Patent number: 7706676
    Abstract: An automatic exposure control method is used to control a shooting exposure parameter for shooting an image by a shooting end. At least one middle brightness value is acquired between a brightness value of a background region and an overall brightness value, and then a relation between working distances of a flash light and a practical distance of an object is determined sequentially from the brightness value of the background region to extend towards the overall brightness value, in which the working distances of the flash light are respectively corresponding to the brightness value of the background region, the middle brightness values, and the overall brightness value, so as to obtain a shooting exposure parameter and to selectively activate the flash light, thereby adjusting the overall brightness of the image to be shot, so as to obtain an image with a proper overall brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventors: Ssu-Hua Huang, Chen-Yuan Chong
  • Patent number: 7702234
    Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes: an A/D conversion circuit having an amplifier that is capable of amplifying image signals per shooting frame; and a gain changer that changes the gain of the amplifier. The apparatus causes the gain changer to increase the gain of the amplifier up to a level that compensates for a gradual decrease in the amount of light emitted from LEDs that occurs during continuous shooting. As a result, the amplitude level of every image signal is made constant and thus, replayed images of the same brightness shot during the continuous shooting are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Tokiwa, Kouhei Awazu
  • Patent number: 7697837
    Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus capable of setting the flash exposure amount of an external flash both in the camera and the standalone external flash, if a flash exposure compensation amount locally set in the external flash itself and that set in the camera exist, one of them is enabled. Display is changed depending upon the location of the enabled setting in order to give the user notice of the enabled flash exposure compensation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Kosaka
  • Patent number: 7664387
    Abstract: A communications apparatus is shown having an imaging device for capturing an image, and a flash for lighting an image to be captured. Also shown is the use of the apparatus. Software for matching a flash performance to other functions of a device is also shown. A radio communications apparatus embodiment is shown that comprises an imaging device including an image sensor and a rolling shutter, and a flash unit. The flash unit is operated at a certain flash frequency, and an exposure time is determined according to the flash frequency so that the image sensor is uniformly exposed by the rolling shutter during the determined exposure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Mikko Perälä, Juha Alakarhu
  • Patent number: 7660520
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera system that illuminates a subject being photographed and its object is to provide the camera system capable of photographing at a shutter speed exceeding a synchronous speed or continuous shooting. An electronic camera according to the present invention controls a xenon tube (81) to emit flash light at a shutter speed lower than the synchronous speed in a single-shot photographing mode, and controls a LED (83a) to emit light at a shutter speed exceeding the synchronous speed so as to continuously emit light while a slit defined by a shutter front curtain and a rear curtain is moving over an effective imaging area of an imaging element. When performing a rear curtain sync photographing or front curtain photographing in a single-shot photographing mode, the xenon tube (81) emits flash light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7529004
    Abstract: A lighting reproduction apparatus for illuminating a subject includes a reproduction light optical source that generates reproduction light. The optical source includes a plurality of light emitters, each characterized by an individual color channel. There may be nine different color channels. A driver drives the light emitter color channels with intensity values at which a substantial spectral match is achieved between the reproduction light and the desired illuminant, so that the subject appears to be illuminated by the desired illuminant. These channel intensity values may be determined by solving a minimization equation that minimizes a sum of square residuals of the reproduction light spectra to the desired illuminant spectra. The output reproduction light may be metamerically, matched with the desired illuminant, with respect to a particular camera's spectral response. One or more spectral reflectances of the subject may be measured and incorporated into the optimization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Paul E. Debevec, Timothy S. Hawkins, Andreas Wenger
  • Patent number: 7502067
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic camera for generating an image having a wide dynamic range by synthesizing two image pickup signals of different exposure amount generated by using an electronic shutter function and means for shutting off light, shading of image pickup signals resulting from difference in charge accumulating time among the pixels of image pickup device due to operation from opened state to closed state of the means for shutting off light being corrected by a shading correction means to form a synthesized image without an occurrence of false color due to shading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kakinuma, Hidetoshi Fukuda, Hiroaki Koseki, Osamu Inagaki, Kuniaki Saito
  • Patent number: 7486884
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising an imaging element for focusing incident light to a light receiving element by the shutter opening to generate image data; a flash for emitting a flash toward an imaging direction of the imaging unit; a controller for controlling the imaging element so as to continuously open the shutter a plurality of times and controlling the flash so as to emit a flash at a second and following opening timings among the plurality of opening timings; and an image processor for generating new image data based on the image data generated by the imaging element by the imaging at the opening timing when the flash does not emit a flash and the image data generated by the imaging element by the imaging at the opening timing when the flash emits a flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Okuno, Minoru Ishida
  • Patent number: 7272304
    Abstract: An image sensing device allows to shoot an image using correct object distance information and light emitting amount when the main light emitting amount upon shooting an object image is calculated by making the pre-light emission after the auto-focusing process. When a predetermined button independent of a release button is operated, a focusing process is executed first. Then, photometry is made while inactivating a strobe, and an exposure value is determined based on an object distance. Then, pre-light emission is made, light reflected by the object in the pre-light emission is measured, and the photometry result under the available light is subtracted from that in the pre-light emission, so as to obtain a brightness value of object reflected light of only the pre-light emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hajime Fukui
  • Publication number: 20070201856
    Abstract: An optical sensor receives light of a light emitting tube. A photoelectric current output from the optical sensor is integrated by a capacitor. A stop signal output part compares the generated voltage of the capacitor with a comparison voltage and outputs a light emission stop signal when the generated voltage exceeds the comparison voltage. A voltage setting part predicts, from target amount of light, an amount of overrun light from when the light emission stop signal is output until when light emission of the light emitting tube terminates and sets the comparison voltage so that a total amount of light emission including the amount of overrun light is a target amount of light emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Ogasawara
  • Publication number: 20070189753
    Abstract: A digital camera is provided with a special successive shooting mode wherein an imaging device makes a series of successive shots upon each shutter release operation, including at least a non-flash shot and at least a flash shot. When a shutter button is pressed halfway in the successive shooting mode, an exposure condition deciding device decides an exposure condition common to the non-flash and flash shots, or individual exposure conditions for the non-flash shot and the flash shot. When the shutter button is fully pressed, the imaging device starts the successive shots of one series. Images captured by the non-flash shot and the flash shot are displayed on an LCD panel. Before the imaging device starts the successive shots, necessary warning marks are displayed together with the exposure conditions decided by the exposure condition deciding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiro Koguchi, Toru Ueda, Makoto Okada, Mitsuru Kamijo, Yuuki Okabe
  • Patent number: 7218353
    Abstract: If an electronic camera is set in an image-capturing sensitivity automatic control mode, a program autoexposure calculation is executed based upon the subject brightness and the image-capturing sensitivity setting to determine a control aperture value and a control shutter speed. If the correct exposure is not achieved, a control exposure sensitivity is calculated based upon the exposure deviation and the image-capturing sensitivity setting is adjusted accordingly. If an internal flash unit or an external flash unit is utilized, an autoexposure calculation is executed by using the flash unit synchronizing speed, the subject brightness and the image-capturing sensitivity setting to determine the control aperture value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7218759
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the detection of faces in a digital image captured under a variety of lighting conditions are provided. Rather than subjecting an entire image to computationally intensive face detection analysis, the image is subjected to computationally simply analysis to identify candidate pixels likely to be of skin colour. Only those pixels having such color are subject to computationally intensive face detection analysis. The pixels are selected by first selecting a color distribution model based on an image capture condition provided with the color digial image. Then, the color of the pixels is tested using the distribution model to determine those pixels having predominantly skin color. Preferably, the distribution model is selected from among a number of different distribution models with each of the distribution models associated with a different set of lighting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Edwin Ho, Alison Joan Lennon, Andrew Peter Bradley
  • Patent number: 7145602
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling exposure of a digital camera with high precision by setting a proper exposure amount by emitting auxiliary light during auto-focusing, detecting the luminance level of an object, and carrying out an exposure controlling operation. The apparatus detects the luminance level of an object in an AE frame under the outside light prior to emitting the auxiliary light, and detects again the luminance level of the object in an AF frame under the auxiliary light after emitting the auxiliary light. The apparatus further performs an exposure controlling operation based on the luminance level in the AE frame when it has been determined that the exposure amount of the AF frame has increased markedly in a determining step, or based on the luminance level in the AF frame when it has been determined that the exposure amount of the AF frame has not increased markedly in the determining step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Shiga
  • Patent number: 7039307
    Abstract: A digital still camera has a function to perform first and second exposures in a single imaging sequence. In the first exposure, imaging conditions are determined to obtain proper exposure amount of the background with available light. Then, the second exposure is carried out with the flashlight to illuminate the main subject. The photographic sensitivity, the shutter speed, and the aperture value for the second exposure are determined such that the exposure value in the second exposure is under-exposure by two steps or more, compared to that in the first exposure. Images obtained by first and second exposures are synthesized to obtain a composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 6744471
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic camera for generating an image having a wide dynamic range by synthesizing two image pickup signals of different exposure amount generated by using an electronic shutter function and means for shutting off light, shading of image pickup signals resulting from difference in charge accumulating time among the pixels of image pickup device due to operation from opened state to closed state of the means for shutting off light being corrected by a shading correction means to form a synthesized image without an occurrence of false color due to shading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., LTD
    Inventors: Minoru Kakinuma, Hidetoshi Fukuda, Hiroaki Koseki, Osamu Inagaki, Kuniaki Saito
  • Patent number: 6741044
    Abstract: When a lamp is turned on and a wafer is placed on a light exposure surface, a controlling unit opens a shutter plate so that light is emitted on the light exposure surface and an illuminometer receives the light. An accumulated light amount measuring unit converts illumination intensity measured by the illuminometer to an accumulated light amount. The controlling unit turns off the lamp by sending a lamp OFF signal to a power supplying unit. At the same time, the controlling unit sends a shutter closing command to the power supplying unit. After the shutter is closed, the controlling unit relight the lamp by sending a lamp ON signal to the power supplying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Komori, Hirotoshi Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20040076419
    Abstract: A light quantity adjusting apparatus which comprises a light-shielding member and a driving unit which drives the opening/closing of the light-shielding member is disclosed. Herein, the light-shielding member is provided with a reinforcement member attached to a partial range including an area liable to deterioration due to repeated opening/closing driving operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Hironobu Satoh
  • Publication number: 20030161621
    Abstract: Disclosed is a camera including: an image-taking device; a shutter unit having a first shutter member that travels from a position where a shutter opening is closed to a position which is retreated from the opening, and a second shutter member that travels from the position which is retreated from the shutter opening to the position where the opening is closed; a lighting unit that lights a subject; and a control circuit that controls the shutter unit, the lighting unit and the image-taking device, in which the control circuit makes the first shutter member travel, and executes an accumulation operation of the image-taking device after the shutter opening is fully opened in an image taking mode in which the subject is lighted by the lighting unit, and makes the second shutter member travel in association with stop of the accumulation operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: Kan Takaiwa
  • Patent number: 6427051
    Abstract: A camera includes a built-in flash and a controller for controlling the camera. The controller includes different photographic modes; an auto-exposure-mode selecting mode in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, the controller allowing the built-in flash to discharge automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode when the built-in flash discharges at a most appropriate time of exposure; and a flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, the controller prohibiting the built-in flash from discharging automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode at a time of exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hosokawa, Toshihiro Hamamura, Shigeru Iwamoto, Tadahisa Ohkura, Hidefumi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6359651
    Abstract: A camera CPU internally provided at a digital still camera determines an exposure time based upon an image signal input from a CCD via a control circuit. The camera CPU also implements preliminary photographing which is accompanied by light emission by an electronic flash unit, obtains a light emission quantity at the electronic flash unit for main photographing based upon the results of preliminary photographing and determines the flash time using the light emission quantity. If the flash time is longer than the exposure time, the camera CPU reduces the length of flash time. The camera CPU calculates the quantity of underexposure occurring as a result of the exposure ending before the illumination by the electronic flash unit is completed. An image processing circuit engages in color correction by incorporating the quantity of underexposure that has been calculated in advance when it processes image data obtained through an imaging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Norikazu Yokonuma