Abstract: A video system is constructed of an auxiliary unit and a primary unit. The auxiliary unit includes a memory for storing a plurality of image data corresponding to an area occupying a portion of one picture, a plurality of location data indicative of the respective locations of the plurality of image data in the one picture and a plurality of color data indicative of respective colors relative to the plurality of image data. The primary unit includes an inputting circuit for inputting a first color video signal, a forming circuit for forming a second color video signal according to the plurality of image data, the plurality of location data and the plurality of color data which are supplied from the auxiliary unit and a combining circuit for combining the first video signal with the second video signal. The video system is capable of producing a variety of comined images with a relatively small memory capacity.

Abstract: The image sensing device is adapted to compose an appropriate single picture from a plurality of pictures of different exposures obtained from the same subject, wherein the camera operation is controlled using as a reference the signal of one of said plurality of pictures of different exposures.

Abstract: In synthesizing a binary image signal with an inputted video signal, color pattern information is generated in synchronism with the inputted video signal, and the binary image signal is colored by using the color pattern information. It becomes possible to synthesize a variety of image patterns with a video signal by using a simple circuit arrangement.

Abstract: A color temperature information forming device has converting means of a plurality of kinds arranged to obtain chrominance signals of a plurality of different kinds by photoelectric converting rays of light of different wave length zones included in an incident light and to accumultate and produce the plurality of chrominance signals. The device detects the level of at least one kind of the chrominance signal among the chrominance signals of the plurality of kinds produced from the plurality of converting means and forms color components information according to the detected level.

Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus inputs a video signal, delays it by one field using a field memory, multiplies the delayed signal by a value K (K less than 1), adds the output from the multiplication to the input signal and supplies the sum to the field memory. The level of the signal read out from the field memory is compared with a predetermined value, and based on the result of that comparison, the video signal being input is substantially inhibited from being supplied to the adding means. The signal obtained by multiplying the immediately-preceding field signal by k, and the present-field signal, are cyclically added, so that the amplitude can be gradually increased. The comparison inhibits addition of a new field signal when the level of that stored in the field memory has reached a predetermined level.

Abstract: An automatic white balance adjusting device for use in a video camera has a plurality of color sensors for sensing a plurality of color components of light coming from an object or thereabout, a plurality of logarithmic compression circuits for effecting logarithmic compression of the respective outputs of the plurality of color sensors, a subtracting circuit for obtaining a difference between outputs of the plurality of logarithmic compression circuits, a smoothing circuit for smoothing an output of the subtracting circuit, a peak detecting circuit for detecting a peak value of the output of the subtracting circuit, an adding circuit for adding, at a predetermined ratio, an output of the smoothing circuit and an output of the peak detecting circuit, and a gain control circuit for controlling gains of color signals output from an image sensor in accordance with an output of the adding circuit.

Abstract: A camera system with an interchangeable lens, including a memory for storing discrimination data for discriminating characteristics of a diaphragm, the memory being provided in the lens unit. Control characteristics of the diaphragm are adjusted inside the camera body on the basis of the discrimination data. Discrimination data on the characteristics of the diaphragm and/or control data according to the characteristics of the diaphragm are stored in the memory of the interchangeable lens.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has a diaphragm for an imaging optical system, a selecting switch for switching between automatic control and manual control of the diaphragm, and a diaphragm controlling circuit capable of controlling and varying the operating speed of the diaphragm. The image sensing apparatus is arranged to switch and vary the operating speed of the diaphragm in accordance with the setting of the selecting switch.

Abstract: A white balance correction circuit includes a first correction signal forming circuit for forming a first white balance correction signal on the basis of an output of a colorimetric sensor, a second correction signal forming circuit for forming a second white balance correction signal on the basis of an output of a color image sensor, and a selection circuit for selecting one of the first and second control signals in accordance with a brightness or color saturation of an object to be photographed, so that the color image sensor produces an image signal having a white balance controlled in accordance with the first or second white balance correction signal selected by the selection circuit.

Abstract: A color temperature detecting device comprises a plurality of color detectors for detecting levels of a plurality of color components included in light incident thereon, a comparator for comparing levels of the plurality of color components with respective reference levels; a device for detecting the illuminance level of the incident light and a controller for changing the reference levels correspondingly with the detected illuminance level.

Abstract: A white balance adjusting circuit which detects the ratio of color components in an illumination light around an object, independently from an image sensing system, and controls the gain of each color signal coming from the image sensing system, characterized in that it comprises means for correcting a signal indicative of the ratio of color components according to the color signal, not gain-controlled, coming from the image sensing system.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for outputting an image pickup signal by forming an image of a subject on an image pickup element through an optical system includes a determining circuit for picking up a plurality of color information signals from the image pickup element, comparing the color information signals with a predetermined reference value to determine that the color information signals reach a predetermined level and detecting quantity of a skin color signal component; and a control circuit for controlling the exposure of the image pickup element in accordance with the result of the determination.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus in which a flux of light which enters through an iris to form an optical image is received by an image pickup element, the accumulating time of this image pickup element is changed, thereby converting the optical image which is obtained for a desired period of time into an electrical signal. In this apparatus, for example, the gain of the iris or signal processing system of the electrical signal is changed to control the electrical signal to a predetermined level irrespective of the noise component which is generated when the accumulating time is changed to eliminate adverse effects of undrained excess charge in the pickup unit.

Abstract: A color correction circuit featured by a correction signal generator for outputting a correction signal in accordance with the input color video signal, and an adder for adding the correction signal to the input color video signal.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises: a color image pickup for converting an optical image into a plurality of electrical color signals; an adjusting unit for automatically adjusting a white balance between the color signals in accordance with a color temperature of an object to be photographed at a predetermined response characteristic; and a control unit responsive to a change in the brightness information in the optical image for variably controlling the response characteristic of the adjusting unit.

Abstract: A color temperature detecting device includes a color component detecting element for detecting electric charges for color components excited by incident light and accumulated with the lapse of time to produce color component signals, a comparison circuit for comparing the color component signals with respective given reference signals to produce discharge time length signals which correspond to the respective accumulated amounts of the electric charges, and an output part for obtaining a ratio between the color components on the basis of the discharge time length signals produced from the comparison circuit to produce a signal according to the ratio as color temperature information.

Abstract: The image sensing apparatus includes a first circuit for forming a signal to control the gains of the various color signals included in the outputs of a image sensing device in accordance with the amplitudes of the color-difference signals of the various color signals, a second circuit for forming a signal to control the gains of the various color signals in accordance with the color temperature of an object to be photographed, and a gain control circuit for controlling and determining the gains of the various color signals in response to a combined output of the signals formed by the first and second circuits.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which alternately performs 1/n-sec light storage and 1/m-sec light storage (m>n), and outputs an image pickup signal obtained by mixing a 1/n-sec stored image and a 1/m-sec stored image. The apparatus has a circuit for separately controlling white balance of the 1/n-sec stored image portion and the 1/m-sec stored image portion.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus comprising: first automatic gain controls for automatically controlling gains of a plurality of chrominance signals and outputting the result to a process circuit; circuiting for dot-sequencing the chrominance signals before the first automatic gain controls; and second automatic gain controls for automatically controlling the gain of the signals which had been dot-sequenced, wherein a video signal is obtained from the outputs of the first and second automatic gain controls. An image pickup apparatus for use in this signal processing apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A color image pickup apparatus in which a luminance signal is formed by repeatedly switching, one by one, red, green and blue color signals separated by color separation circuits from a dot sequential output of a color CCD image pickup element and balanced by a white balance control circuit. The red, green and blue color signals are combined in a luminance signal processing circuit. The apparatus further comprises a first gain control circuit for increasing the gain of the luminance signal processing circuit in order to increase the sensitivity of the apparatus. Also a second gain control circuit is provided for decreasing the signal level of the blue color signal supplied to the luminance signal processing circuit when the gain of the luminance signal processing circuit is increased. Circuitry may be included for processing the color temperature and the brightness of the object so as to control the balance of the plural different color signals.