Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a picked-up image signal, an electronic image magnification enlarging circuit for enlarging an image magnification of the subject by intermittently reading out the picked-up image signal outputted from the image pickup element and varying an image read-out area of an image plane, an exposure control circuit for executing exposure control on the basis of a result obtained by comparing a level of the picked-up image signal with a predetermined reference level, and a correcting circuit for correcting, according to the image magnification of the electronic image magnification enlarging circuit, a no-signal-containing portion produced by an operation of the electronic image magnification enlarging circuit and contained in the picked-up image signal to be supplied to the exposure control circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for viewing dimly illuminated and rapidly changing scenes includes a sensor assembly which generates a video signal. The apparatus further includes a controller which receives the video signal for comparison to a desired average video value whereupon the controller adjusts at least one adjustable variable contained within the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a lens which has an adjustable iris and an image intensification tube which includes a photocathode and a micro-channel plate. The photocathode has an adjustable photocathode gate pulsewidth and the micro-channel plate has an adjustable micro-channel plate gain. A strobe is also provided to illuminate the scene viewed by the sensor assembly wherein the strobe is connected to a processor which is also connected to the controller. The controller determines what the ambient light level is to be at the next illuminated or non-illuminated scene and adjusts the adjustable variables accordingly.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a light quantity adjusting member arranged to vary a quantity of light when the member is moved, a stepping motor arranged to drive the light quantity adjusting member, a luminance detecting part for detecting the luminance of a shooting object on the basis of the quantity of light obtained through the light quantity adjusting member, and a control circuit for driving and controlling the stepping motor in such a way as to make a difference between the luminance of the object detected by the luminance detecting part and a target luminance value smaller, the control circuit being arranged to change the driving speed of the stepping motor to be lowered when the object luminance comes near to the target luminance value.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus which senses an object a plurality of times in different exposures to obtain a plurality of images and makes a single image with a widened dynamic range by processing the plurality of sensed images, generates a histogram of signal levels of an image sensed in a proper exposure by using a histogram generator, automatically decides whether a dynamic range expansion processing is to be processed or not on the basis of the generated histogram by using a dynamic range expansion deciding unit, determines a parameter for sensing another image of the object in an exposure which is different from the proper exposure in accordance with a decision by the dynamic range expansion deciding unit by using a parameter determination unit, and obtains a single image of the object by processing the image sensed in the proper exposure and the image sensed by using the parameter determined by said parameter determination unit an image processing unit.

Abstract: An imaging device according to the present invention has: a photometric circuit that detects a brightness of a photographic subject based on a light flux from the photographic subject that passes through a photographic lens; an exposure calculation circuit that calculates an aperture value and a shutter speed based on the detected brightness of the photographic subject; an imaging element that converts the light flux from the photographic subject received on each photo-electric element to an electric signal and outputs the electric signal, the imaging element having a plurality of the photo-electric elements and a micro-lens in which each of micro-lens elements is arranged facing to each of the photo-electric elements in order to converge the light flux from the photographic subject to a light receiving surface of each of the photo-electric elements; and a correction circuit that corrects the aperture value calculated by the exposure calculation circuit so that a signal level of the electric signal of the lig

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling an iris. The apparatus includes a data detector, a controller, and an iris controller using a feedback method, and further includes a buffer which stores an amplification ratio for modifying the input video signal to include a proper brightness level when the controller determines that adjustment of the iris is needed. An amplification ratio of 1 is stored when the controller determines that adjustment of the iris is not needed. A multiplier amplifies the input video signal by the amplification ratio stored in the buffer. As a result, a video signal having a proper brightness level is output.

Abstract: In a frequency dividing circuit, a VD pulse is generated as a vertical synchronization signal on the basis of the bus clock inputted from an external circuit, while in the gate circuit, integral circuit, gate circuit and hold circuit, the frequency of bus clock is detected on the basis of the VD pulse. Moreover, in the PWM circuit, when the frequency of the bus clock is high or low, a shutter drive pulse having the width shorter or longer than that in the related art is generated, respectively. The electronic shutter driver closes the electronic shutter of the CCD imager (charges generated in the CCD imager are discharged) for the period corresponding to the shutter drive pulse. Thereby, the discharging period in the CCD imager is fixed to a constant period without relation to the frequency of the bus clock. Accordingly, an image having adequate luminance can be obtained by the so-called multi-scan type image sensing device.

Abstract: Video signals include a first video signal and a second video signal. The second video signal, which represents an image of a subject photographed at a relatively high shutter speed, is inserted in a prescribed plurality of frames of the first video signal representing the image of the subject photographed at an ordinary shutter speed. The first video signal has a print inhibit signal, which inhibits printing of an image represented by the video signal, superposed thereon in a vertical blanking interval. The video signal which does not contain the print inhibit signal in its vertical blanking interval, is stored in a memory. The stored video signal is read out of the memory to be used for printing.

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.

Abstract: A video camera system and method for automatically controlling the exposure of a desired object image. A plurality of average luminance values are respectively determined by a plurality of light measurement units. A plurality of reference luminance values are obtained from a plurality of reference value circuits. Selected ones of the average luminance values and the reference luminance values are utilized to form control signals. Such control signals control the video camera so as to maintain a proper exposure of the desired object.

Abstract: The dynamic range of an image intensifier camera may be extended by using an automatic exposure control system which, in response to imager output (for example, the output of a charge coupled device (CCD) imager included in a solid state image intensifier camera), (a) generates a first control signal that controls the gain of the I.sup.2 Tube itself; (b) generates a second control signal for selectively gating the I.sup.2 Tube on or off; and (c) generates a third control signal for controlling a light attenuator that, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is included in the camera. The automatic exposure control system contemplated by the invention has a control range in excess of 10.sup.10 .times.; takes a measurement of the exposure from an imager (again, for example, a CCD sensor) for comparison to a desired setpoint; the measurement used may be a peak, an average or some weighted function and the automatic exposure control logic then adjusts, in order, the I.sup.2 Tube gain, the I.sup.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing images recorded on successive frames of a film recorded with information, the apparatus includes a film feeder which feeds the film in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction; an information reader which reads the recorded information; a density detector which detects a density of each image; and a controller which controls the film feeder, information reader, and density detector. The information reader is worked when the film is fed in the first direction, the density detector is worked when the film is fed in the second direction. A detected image density is adapted for determining an exposure value at which each image is picked up to reproduce the image.

Abstract: An image pickup device capable of exposure control utilizing the iris aperture, shutter speed and gain as three control parameters, comprising means for setting a photometry area in the image frame; means for setting an input parameter as a reference for evaluation, based on the luminance information in an image signal obtained from the photometry means; means for determining the values of the three control parameters for exposure control, according to the value of the input parameter; switch means for switching, according to the phototaking mode, a program setting the control caharacteristics of each control parameter as a function of the input parameter; and photometry area switch means for switching the set state of the photometry area in the image frame, in linkage with the switching operation of the switch means, wherein the phototaking mode is switched according to the phototaking conditions, thereby controlling the parameters and the light metering area according to a program matching the phototaking m

Abstract: An automatic exposure control device of a video camera for recording and tie-recording with proper exposure level including an iris mechanism having a two-fin type iris rotated by a ring portion of which the rotational speed is in proportion to an iris control value while an electric battery is switched on and a photograph button is pushed. Recording is actually started after a predetermined period is passed following the pushing of the photograph button. A photometric integrating circuit outputs an iris integrating value from a brightness element of a photograph signal. A microcomputer determines the iris control value from the iris integrating value. During the predetermined period after the pushing of the photograph button, the iris control value is increased and output for every field in order to control the iris with high speed.

Abstract: A hand held label reader is capable of illuminating a label, capturing a digital image of two-dimensional information indicia on the label, and decoding the digital image to provide decoded output data to a terminal. The target label is illuminated by a low variation illuminator that includes a circular LED array mounted behind a plano-concave dispersing lens. The automatic electronic camera, which includes a CCD camera and control circuitry, uses three images to adjust the intensity of the digital image and store a properly exposed image of the label in video RAM. The intensity of the digital image is adjusted by controlling the video system gain via adjusting the CCD array's integration time, the gain of a video amplifier, and the gain provided by an analog-to-digital converter. The gain provided by the analog-digital-converter is adjusted to compensate for the attenuation of light through the camera's lens assembly. For the first image, the digital image is obtained using a default setting for the gain.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a video camera which comprises an image sensing device for sensing an incident light to generate charges and supplying an output signal corresponding to the charges, the output signal comprising a recurrent vertical scanning period and a recurrent vertical blanking period, the vertical scanning period including a plurality of horizontal scanning periods, a comparator for comparing a level of the output signal with a reference level to generate a compared output signal, a circuit for generating a first clock pulse having the same frequency as a horizontal scanning period, a circuit for generating a second clock pulse having a frequency higher than that of the first clock pulse, and an exposure time controlling circuit for receiving the compared output signal and controlling an exposure time of the image sensing device in synchronism with the first clock pulse according to the compared output signal when the exposure time is within the vertical scanning period, and the expos

Abstract: An exposure control device of a still-video camera has a CCD and a photoreceptor element for sensing a photometry value of an object. First, the camera is aimed at the main object in such a manner that the main object is positioned in the center of the frame, and a first photometry value is obtained. Then, the aim of the camera is changed so that the main object is offset from the center of the frame, and a second photometry value is obtained. A provisional exposure is carried out in accordance with an aperture value and an electric charge accumulating time which are obtained based on the second photometry value, and thus an exposure value is obtained. A ratio of the proper exposure value and the provisional exposure value is obtained. A normal exposure is carried out in accordance with the aperture value and a normal electric charge accumulating time TT=T.times.(E0/E2).times.

Abstract: A digital electronic camera has a first stroke switch and a second stroke switch. When the first stroke switch is pressed, adjustment of focus, coarse adjustment of exposure and detection of light-source flicker are detected using a signal from an image sensing device such as a CCD. When the second stroke switch is pressed, main exposure is performed in accordance with the conditions that have been set. Thus, adjustment of focus and exposure can be performed by relying solely upon the image sensing device and without using various sensors. Moreover, processing is completed in a short period of time by the second stroke switch, which is pressed following the first stroke switch. As a result, focus and exposure adjustments can be carried out in a short period of time using solely an image sensing device without relying upon a rangefinder sensor and photometric sensor, and release time lag can be reduced.

Abstract: An image read-out and processing apparatus comprises an image read-out section, which carries out a preliminary readout and a final readout, and an image processing section. In the final readout, the amount of light irradiated to an image storage sheet, on which an image has been recorded, and/or the light accumulation time of a photoelectric conversion device is adjusted appropriately in accordance with preliminary read-out image information obtained from the preliminary readout. The image processing section is provided with a color and density correcting device for correcting the final read-out image information such that the color and the density of the image may become appropriate, and for determining the degree of correction, which is carried out on the final read-out image information, in accordance with a parameter, which is set in accordance with the preliminary read-out image information. A parameter correcting device corrects the parameter in accordance with the final read-out image information.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing images recorded on successive frames of a film recorded with information, the apparatus includes a film feeder which feeds the film in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction; an information reader which reads the recorded information; a density detector which detects a density of each image; and a controller which controls the film feeder, information reader, and density detector. The information reader is worked when the film is fed in the first direction, the density detector is worked when the film is fed in the second direction. A detected image density is adapted for determining an exposure value at which each image is picked up to reproduce the image.

Abstract: An image pick up device has a plurality of rows of light receiving cells, a plurality of vertical transfer registers each located adjacent to respective one row of light receiving cells and a control circuit for controlling said light receiving cells and the vertical transfer registers. The control circuit makes the light receiving cells and the vertical transfer registers carry out a short exposure operation and a long exposure operation continuously, and then reads out both signals sequentially or in parallel to synthesise an expanded dynamic range signal.

Abstract: A pixel signal generating device is provided with a color filter having a matrix arrangement, in which color filter elements for passing magenta light, green light, yellow light and cyan light are arranged in a regular manner. A first exposure is performed without radiating an electronic flash, and Ye- and Cy-signals are inputted into a second image memory. A second exposure is performed while radiating the electronic flash, and Mg- and G-signals are inputted into a first image memory. Without discharging electric charges accumulated on the CCD, a third exposure is performed without radiating the electronic flash, and Ye- and Cy-signals are generated. The Ye- and Cy-signals obtained by the first exposure and stored in the second image memory are subtracted from the Ye- and Cy-signals of the second and third exposure to form one image.

Abstract: There is provided an exposure control circuit apparatus of a structure such that a momentary change of luminance level can be equivalently disregarded, and a response of an iris can be closer to that of the eye of a human being.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a video camera which comprises an image sensing device for sensing an incident light to generate charges and supplying an output signal corresponding to the charges, the output signal comprising a recurrent vertical scanning period and a recurrent vertical blanking period, the vertical scanning period including a plurality of horizontal scanning periods, a comparator for comparing a level of the output signal with a reference level to generate a compared output signal, a circuit for generating a first clock pulse having the same frequency as a horizontal scanning period, a circuit for generating a second clock pulse having a frequency higher than that of the first clock pulse, and an exposure time controlling circuit for receiving the compared output signal and controlling an exposure time of the image sensing device in synchronism with the first clock pulse according to the compared output signal when the exposure time is within the vertical scanning period, and the expos

Abstract: In an encoded symbol that is read by an encoded symbol reader, an image of the encoded symbol is read and a ratio of a minimum and maximum values of the electrical signals corresponding to the image is determined. If the ratio is larger than a predetermined value, the brightness of the image is determined to be uniform.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to bring a video signal obtained by imaging into a proper level without use of a controllable diaphragm. An imaging apparatus is provided with no controllable diaphragm. Peak detection is performed by a peak detecting circuit for each vertical scanning interval. A peak value is applied to a control device. Necessary shutter speed control in a shutter control circuit, gain control in a pre-amplifier circuit and gain control in a GCA are carried out. Consequently, the level of the video signal obtained by the imaging is adjusted to a proper level without controlling a diaphragm, to obtain an image of proper brightness.

Abstract: An exposure control device includes an area setting circuit which sets a light measuring area on a part of an image sensing plane; a judging circuit which detects a back light image plane on the basis of a difference in level between video signals corresponding to the inside and the outside of the light measuring area; a high luminance detecting circuit which detects a high luminance part of the image sensing plane on the basis of the video signals; and a control circuit arranged to have the light measuring area set on the image sensing plane excluding the high luminance part from the light measuring area by controlling the area setting circuit on the basis of the output of the high luminance detection circuit when the image sensing plane is judged to be a back light image plane by the judging circuit.

Abstract: An exposing apparatus comprises: a lens group to fetch a light from an object; an iris to adjust a light amount from the lens group; an image pickup device to convert the light which passed through the iris into the electric signal; a detecting circuit to detect a luminance signal level from an output signal from the image pickup device; a reference level signal setting circuit to set an exposure control reference value to control the iris; an exposure control reference value modulating circuit to modulate the exposure control reference value when the iris is controlled; and a control circuit to set the exposure control reference value in correspondence to the luminance signal level when an output level of the detecting circuit is larger than a set value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing video signals. According to a preferred embodiment, a video processor is provided, and a video camera interfaced with with the video processor is provided. The video camera supplies video frames to the video processor, and comprises an automatic exposure setting mechanism for automatically updating at least one video exposure parameter before transmitting a next video frame to the video processor. The video camera enables or disables the automatic exposure setting mechanism in response to a strobe signal. It is determined whether to intra-frame encode or to difference encode the next video frame. The video processor transmits a strobe signal to the video camera in accordance with this determination to control the automatic exposure setting mechanism of the video camera.

Abstract: A video camera has a low-speed shutter mode in which an exposure time longer than a field period can be set. The camera has a memory means for storing a detected signal of a video signal. A selector has a first terminal, a second terminal and third terminal, the first terminal being supplied with the detected signal of the video signal which is stored in the memory, the second terminal being directly supplied with the detected signal of the video signal, and the third terminal being provided for selecting the first terminal or the second terminal. The detected signal of the video signal is stored in the memory in a period in which the detected signal of the video signal is supplied and optical control is performed by using the detected signal of the video signal which is stored in the memory in a period in which the detected signal of the video signal is not supplied.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is disclosed for extracting from a single shot, two pictures of an illuminated scene having a foreground zone and a background zone respectively. The first picture has a depth of field which is greater than the second picture. Subsequently the high frequency components are extracted from each of the pictures in order to reflect characteristics of each of the pictures which have the greatest amount of contrast or sharpness. The two high frequency signals are compared in order to obtain a depth of field signal based upon the differences between the two signals.

Abstract: A color sequential electronic camera includes an RGB light source in which the R and G sources are activated in combination to provide a luminance light beam, and the R and B sources separately to provide separate chrominance light beams. Image light reflected by a subject is captured by an image sensor, which generates a color sequential signal comprising a sequence of luminance and chrominance image components. By activating the light sources such that chrominance light beams alternate between luminance light beams, the chrominance image components are captured at a lower temporal rate than the luminance image components. Furthermore, by binning the sensor photosites together for the chrominance image, the chrominance components are captured at a lower spatial resolution than the luminance image components.

Abstract: A video camera includes a lens, an iris and an iris driving circuit, an image sensor, a circuit for dividing the picture into a plurality of sub-areas for extracting the luminance of each sub-area according to the luminance signal provided from the image sensor as a luminance distribution signal, a circuit for generating a signal defining a target value of an iris driving signal, an adaptive circuit using an artificial neural network to which the luminance distribution signal is input for carrying out adaptive conversion so that the offset between a provided teacher signal and its own output is minimized, and a switch for selecting either the target value signal or the output of the adaptive circuit to provide the same as a teacher signal to the adaptive circuit.

Abstract: An electronic still video camera wherein a pre-exposure period is utilized to generate control signals to control both exposure and color balance includes a photoelectric converter for producing an electrical signal corresponding to a received image. Exposure structure is provided for exposing the converter to the image, the amount of radiation admitted by the exposure structure being controllable. Color adjusting circuitry is provided for electrically altering the balance of different colors in the picture to be taken. Control circuitry is provided for controlling the exposure structure to provide a first exposure, and for deriving, from the output of the photoelectric converter corresponding to the first exposure, integrated values which are used to correct both an exposure period and the color balance in a subsequent picture-taking second exposure.

Abstract: An exposing apparatus comprises: a lens group to fetch a light from an object; an iris to adjust a light amount from the lens group; an image pickup device to convert the light which passed through the iris into the electric signal; a detecting circuit to detect a luminance signal level from an output signal from the image pickup device; a reference level signal setting circuit to set an exposure control reference value to control the iris; an exposure control reference value modulating circuit to modulate the exposure control reference value when the iris is controlled; and a control circuit to set the exposure control reference value in correspondence to the luminance signal level when an output level of the detecting circuit is larger than a set value.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exposure control device for a video camera having automatic gain control by which both stability and instantaneous regulation of exposure can be satisfied in accordance with a photographing scene. The exposure control device for the video camera has an iris diaphragm control which receives an electric signal output an image sensor through a preamplifier as an iris diaphragm detection signal and which controls the iris diaphragm based on the iris diaphragm detection signal. An automatic gain control circuit receives an electric signal output from an automatic gain control amplifier disposed subsequent a preamplifier as an automatic gain control detection signal and controls the gain of the automatic gain control amplifier based on the automatic gain control detection signal. A determination circuit determines the various states of a photographing scene based on a change of an electric signal output the image sensor caused by lapse of time.

Abstract: Disclosed is an interchangeable lens system which comprises an interchangeable lens and a camera. the interchangeable lens includes a driving circuit controlled by data transmitted from the camera to the lens such that it displaces a controlled member of the lens, a detection circuit for detecting a displacement of the driving circuit, and a correction circuit for converting the output characteristics of the detection circuit into predetermined common characteristics. The camera includes a control circuit for driving the driving circuit in the interchangeable lens in response to the output of the detection circuit in the interchangeable lens.

Abstract: Auto focus control and/or auto exposure control is carried out by using a luminance signal before gamma correction, before addition of aperture signal but after hand shake correction. Auto white balance control is carried out by using a color signal after hand shake correction. Consequently, precise auto focus control, auto exposure control and/or auto white balance control can be done. The field memory for electronic zooming and/or hand shake correction is also used as a field memory for noise reduction. Consequently, a video signal processing circuit which is inexpensive and simple can be implemented.

Abstract: In the exposure control circuit of an image input device according to the present invention, the rays of light from the subject pass through a diaphragm adjusting the amount of light and undergoes photoelectric conversion at a CCD imaging element. The image signal read from the CCD imaging element is accumulated more than once at an accumulating circuit. The luminance of the subject is detected at a luminance detector. Based on the detected luminance, a condition setting circuit sets the amount of incident light, exposure time, and the number of additions to suitable values. With those suitable settings, the amount of light through the diaphragm, the exposure time of the CCD imaging element, and the number of accumulations by the accumulating circuit are controlled so as to enable the subject to be photographed under the best condition.

Abstract: An auto-iris method for an imaging device includes the steps of obtaining a first signal indicating brightness of an object from a signal output from an imaging element; comparing a level of the first signal with a level of a reference signal; and enhancing a level of the reference signal more as the object becomes brighter and controlling an iris to path more quantity of light to the imaging element, based on the compared result.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image pickup apparatus and method and system for controlling the exposure of the image pickup apparatus. The image pickup apparatus includes a circuit for detecting a voltage corresponding to a current value of an iris, a circuit for generating a voltage corresponding to a desired iris value, a circuit for comparing the two voltages, and a circuit for controlling the iris based on the result of the comparison so as to keep the iris value at the desired value, in which the exposure start time of an image pick-up device is changed in an increment/decrement of one horizontal scanning period and/or in an increment/decrement of a period shorter than one horizontal scanning period to thereby make it possible to perform manual-iris mode automatic exposure control.