Abstract: An error operation in a white balance circuit is prevented from occurring. This error operation occurs when a white balance control is mistakenly executed upon recognizing that a color temperature of the environment is changed during a counter light correction either when an iris is adjusted or when an amplifying gain in an amplifying stage is controlled. The counter light correcting function is executed in order to account for the fact that an object appears shaded in the vicinity of a bright background. The error operation is prevented by maintaining the white balance correction at a present state when a voltage from a counter light correction circuit becomes greater than a reference voltage.

Abstract: A circuit for a video camera for color separation and contour correction which can perform color separation and contour correction of a signal from a charge coupled device image sensor specifically utilizing two 1H (1 horizontal period) delay elements. The circuit adds a 2H delayed chrominance signal from a delay unit and a current input chrominance signal. This sum is then decreased by one-half. The circuit separates red and blue components of the chrominance signals decreased by half and from the 1H delayed chrominance signal from the delay unit. Next, vertical and horizontal contour correcting signals are generated in response to the 1H delayed chrominance signal from the delay unit and in response to the output of an amplifying unit. Thus, the present invention uses two 1H delay elements to perform color separation as well as contour correction to thereby simplify the overall circuit design.