US5978027A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image pickup apparatus having sharpness control
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1997-07-29
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Granted: 1999-11-02
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Expires: 2017-07-29
Abstract
Abstract An image pickup apparatus has an AF function which determines a focus state of an object using an image signal obtained from a signal output of an image pickup device and detects the lens position in an in-focus state. The apparatus includes an image-region setting circuit for selectively extracting an image region for detecting the lens position in an in-focus state, an optimum-exposure-amount calculation circuit for calculating an optimum amount of exposure for the image region using an image signal within the image region set by the image-region setting circuit, and a focus detection circuit for calculating the lens position in an in-focus state using an image signal within the image region exposed with the optimum amount of exposure calculated by the optimum-exposure-amount calculation circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuhiro Takeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 21:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/67; H04N23/673; H04N23/70; H04N23/71; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N23/635
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: image pickup means for converting an optical image into a frame of an electric signal; region selecting means for selecting a region within said frame; detection means for detecting an abnormality in brightness based on the level of the signal from within the selected region within said frame; changing means for changing the selected region from the currently selected region to a newly selected region when the abnormality on brightness has been detected in the currently selected region by said detection means; exposures control means for controlling an amount of exposure on said image pickup means on the basis of the optical image that is incident upon said image pickup using a signal from the newly selected region when the currently selected region has been changed by said changing means, said newly selected region including a portion of the currently selected region; and sharpness control means for controlling the sharpness of the optical image that is incident upon said image pickup means using a signal from the newly selected region, with controlling the entire amount of exposure by said exposure control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: image pickup means for converting an optical image into a frame of an electric signal; region selecting means for selecting a region within said frame; detection means for detecting an abnormality in brightness based on the level of the signal from within the selected region within said frame; changing means for changing the selected region from the currently selected region to a newly selected region when the abnormality on brightness has been detected in the currently selected region by said detection means; exposures control means for controlling an amount of exposure on said image pickup means on the basis of the optical image that is incident upon said image pickup using a signal from the newly selected region when the currently selected region has been changed by said changing means, said newly selected region including a portion of the currently selected region; and sharpness control means for controlling the sharpness of the optical image that is incident upon said image pickup means using a signal from the newly selected region, with controlling the entire amount of exposure by said exposure control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein storage time of said image pickup means is controlled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said exposure control means controls an amount of light incident upon said image pickup means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said changing means changes the position of the currently selected region to another region within said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said changing means changes the size of the region within said frame designated as the currently selected region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
170 words
An image pickup apparutus, comprising: image pickup means for converting an optical image into a frame of an electrical signal; region selecting means for selecting a region within said frame; first adjustment means for discriminating the level of the signal from the selected region within said frame, and for changing the selected region from a currently selected region to a newly selected region when an abnormality in brightness has been discriminated in the currently selected region; second adjustment means, which is different from said first adjustment means, for controlling the entire amount of exposure of said image pickup means based on the newly selected region when the currently selected region has been changed by said first adjusting means; and sharpness control means for controlling the sharpness of the optical image that is incident upon said image pickup means using a signal from the newly selected region, with controlling the entire amount of exposure by said second adjusting means, said newly selected region including a portion of the currently selected region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
170 words
An image pickup apparutus, comprising: image pickup means for converting an optical image into a frame of an electrical signal; region selecting means for selecting a region within said frame; first adjustment means for discriminating the level of the signal from the selected region within said frame, and for changing the selected region from a currently selected region to a newly selected region when an abnormality in brightness has been discriminated in the currently selected region; second adjustment means, which is different from said first adjustment means, for controlling the entire amount of exposure of said image pickup means based on the newly selected region when the currently selected region has been changed by said first adjusting means; and sharpness control means for controlling the sharpness of the optical image that is incident upon said image pickup means using a signal from the newly selected region, with controlling the entire amount of exposure by said second adjusting means, said newly selected region including a portion of the currently selected region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first adjustment means changes the position of the currently selected region to another region within said frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first adjustment means changes the size of the region within said frame designated as the currently selected region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first adjustment means controls an amount of exposure within the newly selected region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first adjustment means controls storage time of the signal within the newly selected region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second adjustment means comprises at least one of a diaphragm and a shutter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-01 | 2003-05-03 | 2003-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-01 | 2007-05-03 | 2007-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-01 | 2011-05-03 | 2011-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |