Patents Examined by Andrew B. Christensen
  • Patent number: 5909247
    Abstract: An XY-address solid-state image pickup apparatus comprises a pixel array made up a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged and horizontal and vertical scanning circuits for reading the signal from the pixel array. Each scanning circuit comprises a plurality of unit stages cascaded, each unit stage comprising a plurality of first shift register units cascaded and a single second shift register unit which is associated with the plurality of first shift register units and which is driven by a clock different from the clock that drives the plurality of first shift register units. Each unit stage further comprises a first switch and a second switch. The input to the first unit of the first shift register units is also fed to the second shift register unit via the first switch. The output of the second shift register unit is fed to each of the plurality of first register units within the unit stage via the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Hosokai, Tetsuo Nomoto, Shinichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5905533
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a number of times of integration determiner for determining a number of times of integration based on stop information representing a stop value of an image pickup unit for picking up a still object, and an integrator for integrating the still image data produced by the image pickup unit by the number of times determined by the determiner. The apparatus modifies the still image data integrated by the integrator for each integration in accordance with the current number of times of integration and the stop information. In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a calculator for sequentially and circulatively adding K times (0<K<1) of an input video signal and (1-K) times of a past image signal correlated to the input video signal to reduce a noise component of a still image or a still image area in a motion picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hirofumi Hidari
  • Patent number: 5880780
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes an array of photosensitive elements for storing signal charges, a plurality of vertical shift registers for storing the signal charges transferred from the photosensitive elements, charge storage sections for storing one field of signal charges transferred from the respective vertical shift registers, a horizontal shift register for storing one line of signal charges transferred thereto successively at time intervals from the charge storage sections, a timing generator for producing clock pulses for driving the vertical shift registers to transfer the signal charges from the vertical shift registers to the charge storage sections and to sweep residual charges from the vertical shift registers, and a driver for amplifying the clock pulses fed thereto from the timing generator. The driver has a variable amplification factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuo Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 5815203
    Abstract: A zoom tracking apparatus and method in a video camera. An offset adjustment is achieved by deriving applied voltage of the zoom position sensor only by use of data relating to positions of the zoom lens respectively associated with several optional points and corresponding positions of the focusing lens involving focusing while shifting the zoom lens in one direction. The offset adjustment is, thereby, achieved rapidly and accurately, and an accurate focus upon zoom tracking is obtained. The minimum quantity of trace data is stored in the internal ROM of the control circuit, while a trace tracking of the focusing lens associated with the shift of the zoom lens is achieved in a region where an error may occur possibly upon detecting the position of the zoom lens by use of a focusing evaluation value, thereby capable of achieving the trace tracking accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seoung Eog Lee, Jin Soo Park
  • Patent number: 5808675
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus having a device for scanning a line of an image along a first scanning direction. One of a plurality of formats for storing an image is selected. In accordance with the selected format, one of a plurality of second scanning directions for moving the scanning device is selected. The second scanning directions are perpendicular to the first scanning direction. The scanning device is then moved along the determined second scanning direction after scanning a line of an image along the first scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5801771
    Abstract: A keyboard has a joyball centrally positioned and operable by the operator with a hand, and a plurality of operation keys operable by the operator with the fingertips and disposed in a substantially semicircular array around the joyball. The keyboard is connected to a video camera for controlling the attitude of the video camera with the joyball and adjusting the optical system of the video camera, all with one hand of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Ohwaki, Kiyoshi Yoneda
  • Patent number: 5798791
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multieye imaging apparatus for imaging an image field including an overlapped area by controlling a plurality of pick-up-image systems for obtaining an image having a desired aspect ratio that is different from an image obtained from a pick-up-image optical system. The multieye imaging apparatus has an image correlation processing unit for effecting a correlation operation from image signals obtained from a plurality of pick-up-image systems. The apparatus also has an image synthesizing processing unit for joining the other image on the basis of one image from the image signals relative to the correlation operation performed by the image correlation processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsushi Katayama, Shigeyuki Suda, Hideaki Mitsutake
  • Patent number: 5796430
    Abstract: When defective pixels of a solid state image pickup device of a video camera are corrected by signal processes, a white spot noise is detected by closing an iris and by comparing the signal level and a level of only a dark current. Further, in this case, a gain of an AGC circuit for controlling a gain of a video signal is raised and a precise detection is executed. By executing such a detecting operation at the time of turn-on or turn-off of a power source, the user is not annoying. In the ordinary photographing, a reference level in detection of a white spot noise is set to an optimum value in accordance with a temperature of the solid state image pickup device or its peripheral temperature or the gain of the AGC circuit so that the white spot noise detection is not influenced by the temperature of the solid state image pickup device or the operating state of the AGC circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Katoh, Kenji Itoh, Hiroyasu Ohtsubo
  • Patent number: 5796432
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device and method of operating the same includes an imaging section for converting incident light into a signal charge which is temporarily stored in a storage section before being read out. A vertical transfer register extends from an imaging section to a storage section. A transfer clock pulse is applied to a portion of the vertical transfer register disposed in the storage section such that the potential of the vertical transfer register in the storage section is deeper than that in the imaging section. Excess charge is transferred to a smear drain section. According to an alternate feature, the potential of the vertical transfer register within either the imaging section or the storage section is maintained constant. A further feature makes use of two drain regions disposed at respective distal ends of the imaging section and the storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Iesaka, Tetsuro Kumesawa
  • Patent number: 5793423
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a solid state image sensing device of an amplifying type which can increase a switching speed during the horizontal scanning by making an output circuit low in impedance. In the output circuit of this amplifying type solid state image sensing device, the FET of source-follower configuration functions as a buffer and a horizontal gate switch. A first switching means is coupled between an output terminal of a capacitor connected to each vertical signal line and the gate electrode of the FET and a second switching means is coupled between the gate electrode of the FET and a reference potential point, respectively, whereby an output resistance and a load capacitance of the output circuit are reduced to enable the output circuit to become low in output impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masaharu Hamasaki
  • Patent number: 5793424
    Abstract: A synchronously gated high speed CCD imager system having a predetermined frame time includes: a CCD interline transfer array including a plurality of photoelectric collection quantum wells for collecting photoelectrons from an object; a plurality of storage wells associated with the collection wells; an anti-blooming circuit for diverting photoelectrons from accumulating in the collection wells; and switching means for transferring the photoelectrons accumulated in the collection wells to the storage wells and enabling the anti-blooming circuit during synchronized portions of the frame time to divert photoelectrons from accumulating in the collection wells and for disabling the anti-blooming circuit to enable the collection wells to collect photoelectrons during another portion of the frame time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Visidyne, Inc.
    Inventor: Orr Shepherd
  • Patent number: 5790194
    Abstract: An indicator provided thereon with a crystal panel is detachably secured to a grip portion of a main body of an Electronic News Gathering camera through a support arm, and the crystal panel is positioned around an Electronic News Gathering lens. With this arrangement, a news caster can give a news comment and the like while directly watching a picture image of a broadcasting script, which is displayed by the crystal panel. In this prompter, a half mirror can be dispensed with, so that the prompter can be rendered lighter in weight and easily portable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Shimamura
  • Patent number: 5781232
    Abstract: An insertion and removal mechanism for recording media includes a door that can move between a closed position that covers a loading chamber by moving in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the recording medium is inserted and removed. In the open position, an opening is created, through which the recording medium can be inserted and removed, by the door separating from the loading chamber. A conversion mechanism converts the operating force of the door, acting in the direction of opening and closing of the door, into a force in the direction of inserting and removing the recording medium. A first driving unit is driven in the direction of insertion and removal of the recording medium through force converted by the conversion mechanism and engages with the recording medium when the door is closing so as to cause the recording medium to be moved toward the terminals of the information device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Ejima
  • Patent number: 5777673
    Abstract: A color separation prism having four blocks which can be directly placed at a position, where a color separation prism is to be provided, within a currently-used camera by making the F-number of the color separation prism substantially equivalent to that of an image pick-up lens, and which can implement a dual green system while obtaining the same brightness for the overall optical system as it is obtained from a color separation prism having three blocks. The color separation prism is made up of two prism blocks for separating an incident ray into a green color, one prism block for separating the incident ray into a red color, one prism block for separating the incident ray into a blue color, and an F-number which is substantially the same as an F-number of an image pick-up lens used together with the color separation prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 5777675
    Abstract: An automatic light measuring device for an image pickup device includes a pair of line sensors suitable for an automatic focusing adjustment and disposed on a semiconductor chip at positions spaced apart by a predetermined distances, an integration time controller for generating an integration control signal for controlling the charge accumulation by incident light by detecting the amount of charges accumulated in the line sensors, a first exposure amount detector for calculating the intensity of incident light from the integration control signal, a second exposure amount detector inclusive of photoelectric conversion elements formed on the semiconductor chip, for detecting the amount of incident light, a pair of lenses mounted above the pair of line sensors for focusing the image of substantially the same subject within the central area of the field of view, and an optical system for applying light within the area broader than the central area of the field of view to the surface of the semiconductor chip inc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Miida, Kazuhiro Kawajiri, Jun Hasegawa, Isao Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 5777669
    Abstract: An image reader device comprises photo sensing element arrays each of a plural number of blocks each consisting of a plural bits of photo sensing elements, a plural number of first switching elements, connected to the photo sensing elements, for transferring en bloc the charge of all bits generated in the photo sensing element array, a plural number of second switching elements, connected to the photo sensing elements, for resetting en bloc the charge of all bits left in the photo sensing elements after the charge transfer, a plural number of capacitor portions, connected to the first switching elements, for retaining the transferred charge, a plural number of third switching elements, connected to the first switching elements, for transferring the charge stored in the capacitor portions, a plural number of wiring capacitor portions, formed connecting to the third switching elements, for retaining the charge transferred by the third switching elements, common signal lines for connecting the third switching el
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koki Uwatoko, Hiroyuki Miyake
  • Patent number: 5777671
    Abstract: A control circuit generates a control signal which is of a low level during a certain period of time after the power supply of a solid state imager has been turned on or a power save mode thereof has been canceled, and of a high level after elapse of the period of time. Based on the control signal, a timing generator generates transfer clock signals having a high frequency than when the solid state imager is in a normal transfer mode, and applies the transfer clock signals to a CCD shift register to remove or transfer excessive invalid charges at a high rate therefrom. After the power supply has been turned on or the power save mode has been canceled, therefore, the time required to bring the solid state imager into a condition capable of imaging a subject is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhito Maki, Tetsuro Goto, Tadao Takagi, Hiroyuki Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 5764290
    Abstract: Flange-back adjustment in a video camera using an inner focus lens assembly is done by detecting a position on the top of an actual zoom tracking curve and by detecting positions of end points of a variater on the basis of the top. Positions of the end points are presumed by a calculation from a position of the variater before arrival at an end. That is, by using the position of the variater in focus as a result of a movement of a focus lens from the top, and a ratio of a distance from the position of the variater in focus to one of the end points versus a distance from the position of the variater in focus to the other of the end points, positions of the end points are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuaki Hirota, Yoshikazu Ochi, Makibi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5764287
    Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus arranged to carry out a predetermined signal processing action including a gamma correction process on a signal outputted from an image sensor and to invert the signal during the process of the signal processing action, a varying circuit is arranged to vary a gamma value to be used for the gamma correction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shingo Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 5764291
    Abstract: An orientation sensor generates a left orientation signal and a right orientation signal to indicate whether a camera is in an upright orientation, a left orientation, a right orientation, or an inverted orientation. A setting unit retrieves the left and right orientation signals and light intensity signals corresponding to image measurement zones. Based upon the values of the left and right orientation signals, the setting unit uses different weighted combinations of the light intensity signals to determine optimum exposure and focus settings. The orientation sensor includes a first tube and a second tube that each contain an indicating object. The indicating object within each tube selectively provides two orientation signals based upon the camera's orientation relative to an image, thereby changing an orientation signal from a binary "0" signal to a binary "1" signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott F. Fullam