| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 396213000 | EXPOSURE CONTROL CIRCUIT | 77 |
| 20080199173 | CAMERA, ACCESSORY, AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A camera includes a camera control unit configured to acquire information on an accessory mounted on the camera by performing communication with an accessory control unit included in the accessory and to control a photographing operation based on the information on the accessory. When the camera control unit acquires, from the accessory control unit, first information that is required prior to start of photographing and second information that is required prior to generation of image data after the start of photographing, if the camera control unit determines that a photographer has performed an operation to start a photographing operation during a period in which the camera control unit is performing communication to acquire the second information, the camera control unit executes a photographic sequence in priority to acquiring the second information and thereafter acquires the second information. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080260373 | DETERMINING A FINAL EXPOSURE SETTING AUTOMATICALLY FOR A SOLID STATE CAMERA WITHOUT A SEPARATE LIGHT METERING CIRCUIT - An embodiment of the invention is a method of generating a final exposure setting, including, (a) selecting one of a number of predetermined exposure settings as a current exposure setting for a solid state camera having a camera imager, (b) generating a captured scene by the camera imager using the current exposure setting, (c) selecting according to an automated search methodology another one of the exposure settings to be the current setting in response to the captured scene being underexposed or overexposed, and, (d) repeating (b) and (c) until the captured scene is neither underexposed or overexposed. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080267605 | Digital camera - A digital camera includes: an image sensor that captures an image of a subject and outputs an image signal; and a control device that engages the image sensor to capture an image at an exposure value having been set, makes a decision as to whether or not an overflow or an underflow deviating from a dynamic range of the image sensor manifests, calculates an exposure correction quantity with which the exposure value having been set is to be corrected in order to reduce the overflow or the underflow based upon results of the decision and engages the image sensor to capture a new image at an exposure value having been corrected in correspondence to the exposure correction quantity. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080285967 | OPTICAL APPARATUS WITH APERTURE CONTROLLER - An optical apparatus, such as an image pickup apparatus, includes a detector configured to detect whether a manual aperture operation unit is operated by an amount greater than or equal to a predetermined amount during automatic aperture control. When an aperture fixing switch is operated or when the detector detects that the manual aperture operation unit is operated by an amount greater than or equal to the predetermined amount, automatic aperture control is disabled and manual aperture control is enabled. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090148148 | PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND PHOTOGRAPHING METHOD - A photographing apparatus and method are provided that are capable of suppressing noise generation in a captured image obtained by photographing an object by radiating light uniformly over the entire screen. Such capability results even from a light emitting unit which performs pulse light emission when exposure timing differs for every horizontal line. The photographing apparatus includes an X-Y address type photographing device and exposes the X-Y address type photographing device to photograph an object. The photographing apparatus includes a pulse light emitting unit repeating light emission and light non-emission toward the object in association with a photographing manipulation and a light emission time control unit controlling light emission such that a period of light emission or light non-emission of the pulse light emitting unit is equal to 1/n of an exposure time of the X-Y address type photographing device, wherein n is an integer greater than 1. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090169194 | AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CONTROL METHOD - An automatic exposure control method is used to control a shooting exposure parameter for shooting an image by a shooting end. At least one middle brightness value is acquired between a brightness value of a background region and an overall brightness value, and then a relation between working distances of a flash light and a practical distance of an object is determined sequentially from the brightness value of the background region to extend towards the overall brightness value, in which the working distances of the flash light are respectively corresponding to the brightness value of the background region, the middle brightness values, and the overall brightness value, so as to obtain a shooting exposure parameter and to selectively activate the flash light, thereby adjusting the overall brightness of the image to be shot, so as to obtain an image with a proper overall brightness. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090185800 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING OPTIMAL EXPOSURE OF STRUCTURED LIGHT BASED 3D CAMERA - Provided are a method and system for determining an optimal exposure of a structured light based 3D camera. The system includes a projecting means for illuminating a predetermined pattern on a target object, an image capturing means for capturing an image of the target object with the pattern projected, and a processing means for reconstructing 3D data for the target object by identifying the pattern of the captured images from the image capturing means. The system automatically determines an optimal exposure of the structured light based 3D camera system through analyzing the captured image of the target object. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20100040359 | PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A photographic apparatus comprises an information obtaining unit and a controller. The information obtaining unit obtains information regarding a photographic subject image. The controller performs a switching control that changes a first use mode to a second use mode on a basis of the information. The first use mode is set by a user, and the second use mode is different from the first use mode. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100284678 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, a diaphragm control unit configured to control an aperture value of a diaphragm, and an electronic shutter control unit configured to control an operation of an electronic shutter for adjusting a charge accumulation time of the image sensor by adjusting a driving timing of the image sensor, wherein, if driving of the diaphragm overlaps a charge accumulation time when the aperture value is changed from a first aperture value to a second aperture value, the electronic shutter control unit controls a time of charge accumulation corresponding to the second aperture value in the charge accumulation time such that a brightness of an image signal output from the imaging unit when the first aperture value is set and a brightness of an image signal output from the imaging unit when the second aperture value is set become approximately equal to each other. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100316366 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture an image of an object, a mechanical shutter including a second curtain and a second-curtain holding mechanism configured to electromagnetically hold the second curtain at an initial position prior to a travel, a first temperature sensor disposed within a predetermined range from the second-curtain holding mechanism, a second temperature sensor disposed outside the predetermined range from the second-curtain holding mechanism, a determination unit configured to determine an exposure time for the image sensor according to a brightness of the object, an adjustment unit configured to adjust the exposure time if a temperature difference between temperatures detected by the first and second temperature sensors is greater than a predetermined threshold, and an exposure control unit configured to perform exposure control for the image sensor based on the exposure time adjusted by the adjustment unit if the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined threshold. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110026910 | PHOTOMETRIC CALIBRATION METHOD AND DEVICE - A photometric calibration method includes: obtaining a target image and a reference image by a light field camera and transforming the reference image into a revised target image corresponding to the target image; calculating a photometric calibration ratio according to a function for correlating the target image and the revised target image by using a numerical algorithm; and the intensity of the target image is divided by the photometric calibration ratio to obtain a calibrated target image. A light field of a scene is formed by all of the calibrated target image so as to improve the quality of the light field. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110052173 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - In continuous shooting processing, the defocus amounts of respective focus detection areas and the reliabilities of the defocus amounts are detected from information of the focus detection areas. Weightings are determined based on the reliabilities and defocus amounts. If the detection of defocus amounts is not completed in one shooting operation during continuous shooting, weightings are determined using defocus amounts detected in a shooting operation preceding the current one during continuous shooting. If there is no defocus amount that has been detected in a shooting operation preceding the current one, weightings are determined to weight a photometry area at a predetermined position of the field. A correct exposure for shooting is determined by calculating the weighted average of photometric values obtained in a plurality of photometry areas using the determined weightings. Continuous shooting can be performed with a correct exposure without decreasing the continuous shooting speed. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110052174 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND EXPOSURE CONTROL METHOD - An image sensing apparatus has focus state detection areas, photometry areas, a defocus amount obtaining unit that obtains a defocus amount of each focus state detection area, a photometry unit that obtains a photometric value of each photometry area, and a determination unit that determines a weighting coefficient for each photometry area. The photometry areas includes a first photometry area, corresponding to any of the focus state detection areas, for which the weighting coefficient is determined using a defocus amount of the corresponding focus state detection area, and a second photometry area for which the weighting coefficient is determined using the weighting coefficient for the first photometry area or the defocus amount of the focus state detection area corresponding to the first photometry area. The second photometry area includes one or more photometry areas, and, in a field area, the number of photometry areas below a first area for obtaining a photometric value in the first photometry area is greater than that above the first area. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110076002 | Image Capturing Device and Method - An image capturing device includes an image sensing unit, a shutter button mechanism, and a control unit. The image sensing unit includes a lens module and an image sensor. The shutter button mechanism is operable to generate a trigger signal when pressed and to generate a release signal when the shutter button mechanism is released after being pressed. The control unit is configured to perform, in response to the release signal from the shutter button mechanism, a picture taking procedure for controlling the image sensing unit to capture an image. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110123186 | ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SHUTTER CONTROL - A method in a camera device having an image sensor and an electro-mechanical shutter mechanism is as follows. A constant drive current is applied to the shutter mechanism to close shutter at the end of a first exposure. Then, a decaying drive current is applied to the shutter mechanism during a readout interval for the first exposure. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110194850 | WIDE DYNAMIC RANGE HARDWARE APPARATUS AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A wide dynamic range (WDR) hardware apparatus and a photographing apparatus including the WDR hardware apparatus are provided where the WDR unit applies weight coefficients to a luminance signal of a small size image having a first exposure time and a luminance signal of a small size image having a second exposure time longer than the first exposure time. The system combines the luminance signals applied weight coefficients, applies weight coefficients to a luminance signal of an original size image having the first exposure time and a luminance signal of an original size image having the second exposure time, and combines the luminance signals applied weight coefficients. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110211823 | ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SHUTTER CONTROL - A method in a camera device having an image sensor and an electro-mechanical shutter mechanism is as follows. A constant drive current is applied to the shutter mechanism to close shutter at the end of a first exposure. Then, a decaying drive current is applied to the shutter mechanism during a readout interval for the first exposure. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110249961 | Dynamic Exposure Metering Based on Face Detection - A system, computer readable medium, and method for dynamically setting a camera's exposure parameters based on face detection are disclosed. When taking a picture or video of a person in front of a bright background, standard exposure algorithms tend to overexpose the background. In one embodiment disclosed herein, a face detection algorithm is run on the current picture or video frame, and the exposure metering region is inset over the detected face. Exposure time, gain, or other exposure parameters may be set based on the pixels within the exposure metering region. In another embodiment, the exposure metering region tracks a moving face according to lag parameters so that the exposure metering region remains substantially over the face. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of faces may be tracked, with the exposure parameters set based on a weighted average of the pixels within the plurality of face-containing exposure metering regions. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110311212 | CAMERA BODY AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A camera body is provided, to which an interchangeable lens is mountable, the interchangeable lens including a diaphragm and capable of sending driving speed information of the diaphragm. The camera body has a receiving unit operable to receive the driving speed information of the diaphragm from the interchangeable lens, an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image formed by the interchangeable lens to generate image data, a controller operable to set an imaging condition for the imaging unit, and a sending unit operable to send a control signal for changing brightness information of the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens. The controller sets the imaging condition for a period from a start to an end of a driving of the diaphragm according to the received driving speed information of the diaphragm when the sending unit sends the control signal to the interchangeable lens. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110317992 | IMAGE SHOOTING DEVICE - An image shooting device includes an image shooting part, an operation part, a display part that displays a first image which is being shot by the image shooting part under a first light source on a display medium, a recording part that records a second image shot under a second light source by the image shooting part which receives the image shooting instruction from the operation part in a storage medium, a shooting condition setting part that sets a first shooting condition for the first image and a second shooting condition for the second image when the first light source is different from the second light source, and a shooting condition control part that performs control on shooting conditions of the image shooting part such that the first image is shot under the first shooting condition and the second image is shot under the second shooting condition. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120082447 | LIGHT PATH ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A light path adjustment apparatus includes a support plate that has a first through hole through which light passes and optical units that move between an open location where the first through hole is opened by the optical units moving toward an outside of the first through hole and a closing location where the first through hole is divided into a plurality of regions by the plurality of optical units moving toward the first through hole. The optical units block at least a part of the light in the closing location. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120201527 | MONITORING CAMERA AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - A monitoring camera and an operation method thereof are provided. The monitoring camera includes a light sensor, a voltage comparing unit and a reference voltage generating unit. The light sensor senses an environment brightness of the monitoring camera and generates an induced current accordingly. The voltage comparing unit generates a sensing voltage according to the induced current and compares the sensing voltage and a reference voltage to obtain a first comparison result, so that the monitoring camera can determine whether to perform at least one of a plurality of mode switching operations according to the first comparison result. The reference voltage generating unit outputs the first reference voltage and determines whether to reduce the first reference voltage according to the first comparison result. | 08-09-2012 |
| 396222000 | Bracketing | 1 |
| 20090003819 | Photographing device, photographing method, and program - A photographing device configured to photograph a plurality of images consecutively by changing an exposure value is provided. The photographing device may; include a control-range-determination unit configured to determine a control range which is a range where the exposure value is varied, and an interval-calculation unit configured to calculate a control interval which is an interval between photographing-exposure values that are exposure values existing in the control range and that are exposure values of the photographed images so that the photographing-exposure values are uniformly distributed over the control range according to a number of the photographed images. | 01-01-2009 |
| 396223000 | Override control | 1 |
| 20090110386 | PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC METHOD - A photographic apparatus infers a user's photographic intent and accordingly switches between a manual shoot mode and an automatic shoot mode. In the manual shoot mode, processing to save photographic image data is timed in accordance with the user operating a user-operable shutter element, while in the automatic shoot mode, such processing is conducted independently of shutter element operations. A photographic unit photographs a scene, acquires photographic image data of a subject, and then executes processing for saving the photographic image data. An intention judgment information detector detects intention judgment information used to judge the photographic intent of the user. A controller makes an intention judgment using the intention judgment information from the intention judgment information detector, and according to the intention judgment result, causes the photographic unit to selectively execute the operations for one of the modes. | 04-30-2009 |
| 396224000 | Photometer lock | 1 |
| 20120128341 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING PHOTOMETRIC VALUE - An image capturing apparatus comprises: a photometry unit configured to perform photometry on a subject and output a photometric value; an obtaining unit configured to obtain a plurality of photometric values from the photometry unit during a predetermined period of time; and a calculation unit configured to perform a prediction calculation to predict a luminance of the subject based on the plurality of photometric values obtained by the obtaining unit. | 05-24-2012 |
| 396225000 | Color temperature compensation or detection | 3 |
| 20080212956 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGE CAPTURING - An exposure parameter is determined based on an illumination condition by calculating a red divided by green (R/G) value, calculating a blue divided by green (B/G) value, and comparing the R/G and B/G values to a predetermined auto-white balancing map to determine the exposure parameter. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080260374 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture an image of an object, a mechanical shutter including a second curtain and a second-curtain holding mechanism configured to electromagnetically hold the second curtain at an initial position prior to a travel, a first temperature sensor disposed within a predetermined range from the second-curtain holding mechanism, a second temperature sensor disposed outside the predetermined range from the second-curtain holding mechanism, a determination unit configured to determine an exposure time for the image sensor according to a brightness of the object, an adjustment unit configured to adjust the exposure time if a temperature difference between temperatures detected by the first and second temperature sensors is greater than a predetermined threshold, and an exposure control unit configured to perform exposure control for the image sensor based on the exposure time adjusted by the adjustment unit if the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined threshold. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20110058802 | SIGNAL MEASUREMENTS EMPLOYED TO AFFECT PHOTOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS - Subject matter disclosed herein relates to setting photographic parameters based, at least in part, on signal measurements, such as, for example, without limitation, position of the Sun. Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise the following: a wireless communication capable device (E.G., | 03-10-2011 |
| 396233000 | Having plural photocells | 6 |
| 20120237195 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A determination unit determines a weighting coefficient for a second light metering area corresponding to a focus detection area at which a second defocus amount having an absolute value larger than an absolute value of a first defocus amount is acquired relatively smaller than a weighting coefficient for a first light metering area corresponding to a focus detection area at which a first defocus amount is acquired, and changes a difference between the weighting coefficient for the first light metering area and the weighting coefficient for the second light metering area based on a plurality of defocus amounts including the defocus amount of the focus detection area not corresponding to the first light metering area and the second light metering area. | 09-20-2012 |
| 396234000 | More than two photometering areas | 5 |
| 20080226279 | Auto-exposure Technique in a Camera - An image processor, which determines appropriate exposure parameters for a shutter assembly in a camera. The image processor may computationally determine a region of interest in a scene sought to be captured, and set the parameters to ensure that the exposure parameters are set to capture an image of the scene with the region of interest having a desired brightness level. In an embodiment, pixel values of multiple frames (each frame with a corresponding set of configuration parameters of the shutter assembly) may be examined to determine the frame having pixel values with the region having the desired brightness level. The shutter assembly may be configured with the parameters corresponding to such a frame to provide an auto-exposure feature. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080253758 | Image processing method - In a method for processing an image, a scene to be captured is divided into multiple zones and statistical values for a plurality of the multiple zones are obtained. In addition, a short-exposure time and a long-exposure time from the statistical values of the plurality of zones are determined. A long-exposure frame is captured at the long-exposure time and a short-exposure frame is captured at the short-exposure time. The long-exposure frame and the short-exposure frame are combined into a combined image while correcting for motion estimated to have occurred between the long-exposure frame and the short-exposure frame, and the combined image is stored. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20090190911 | Imaging apparatus - An imaging apparatus includes a photometry unit dividing a subject into a plurality of regions and performing a photometry, a first calculating unit calculating a first control value based on a photometry result of the photometry unit, a comparing unit comparing the first control value with a maximum value of photometry values in the plurality of regions, a second calculating unit correcting the first control value depending on a comparison result by the comparing unit to calculate a second control value, an image pickup unit picking up an image of the subject according to the second control value and generates an image data, and a third calculating unit calculating a lightness improvement amount for a correction of dark area gradation of the image data depending on the comparison result. Therefore, optimum exposure adjustment and correction of dark area gradation can be performed depending on the subject. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20100322614 | EXPOSURE CONTROL UNIT AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An exposure control unit comprising a photometer, a designator, a first calculator, a first counter, a selector, a second calculator, a categorizer, and an exposure controller is provided. The photometer comprises a plurality of photometric zones. The designator designates the photometric zones one by one as a target zone. The first calculator calculates a first difference. The first counter counts a first determination number. The selector selects the target zone of which the first determination number is greater than a second threshold. The second calculator calculates a categorization value. The categorizer categorizes a target zone into low- or high-luminous zones. The exposure controller controls an exposure of the imaging apparatus on the basis of the partial value of light for one of the low- and high-luminous zones. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110052175 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING WEIGHTING VALUES IN LIGHT METERING - A method for adjusting weighting values in light metering is provided. An input image is divided into multiple metering zones. The input image includes a number of pixel data, and the metering zones correspond to a number of exposure weighting values. It is determined whether the color of each pixel datum of the input image is skin color. For each metering zone, an amount of the pixel data determined as the skin color is calculated. The corresponding exposure weighting values of the metering zones are adjusted according to the calculated results. | 03-03-2011 |
| 396235000 | Velocity control of shutter or diaphragm component | 2 |
| 20110262124 | CAMERA BODY AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A camera body includes an imaging unit for generating image data from an optical signal incident via the interchangeable lens, a detector for detecting a light quantity of the optical signal, a controller for setting an aperture value of a diaphragm of the interchangeable lens and an exposure condition which is a setting relating to exposure other than a setting of the diaphragm, a sending unit for sending a control signal for control with the set aperture value to the interchangeable lens, and a mode setting unit for selecting one from a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes includes a first mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value of the diaphragm and the exposure condition according to the detected light quantity during capturing of a moving image, and a second mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value with the exposure condition being fixed according to the detected light quantity during capturing of the moving image. An average drive speed of the diaphragm for automatically adjusting the aperture value in the second mode is slower than that in the first mode. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110293258 | OPTICAL APPARATUS INCLUDING LIGHT AMOUNT ADJUSTING APPARATUS - An optical apparatus includes a stop having an aperture, two filter members each including a first area that includes a transmissive part and a gradation part having a transmittance that is lower than the transmittance of the transmissive part and that is changed in a moving direction of the filter member, an actuator that drives the two filter members, and a controller that controls the actuator. The two filter members are disposed so that both changing directions of densities of the gradation part and moving directions are opposite and the first area has a size capable of covering a whole of a first aperture. The controller controls the actuator so as to always move in an area between a first position and a second position. The transmissive part has a size that is incapable of covering the whole of the first aperture. | 12-01-2011 |
| 396236000 | Look-up table memory | 2 |
| 20100296806 | IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A method of controlling an image photographing apparatus includes checking a photographing mode of the image photographing apparatus, displaying a characteristic curve indicating a relationship between photographing conditions and a recommended region if the checked photographing mode is a manual mode to manually adjust the photographing conditions, and changing the photographing conditions if a user specifies any point of the characteristic curve or the periphery of the characteristic curve. Accordingly, it may be possible to implement the user interface which is conveniently and easily controlled. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20110293259 | Scene Adaptive Auto Exposure - Systems, methods, and a computer readable medium for an improved automatic exposure algorithm attempt to classify an image into a particular “scene category,” and, based on the determined scene category, meter the scene according to a generated metering weighting matrix. In one embodiment, the average luminance is calculated for a central exposure metering region of the image and a plurality of peripheral exposure metering regions surrounding the central exposure metering region. Based on comparisons of the average luminance values of the peripheral exposure regions to the average luminance of the central exposure region, a target metering weighting matrix may be generated. In another embodiment, the scene category corresponds to a predetermined metering weighting matrix. In video applications, it may be desirable to reduce oscillations in metering parameter values to limit any visually jarring effects on the camera's preview screen by only adjusting metering parameter values when predetermined criteria are met. | 12-01-2011 |
| 396238000 | Manually selective exposure mode | 1 |
| 20120269501 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - If an exposure control value set according to a user's instruction is out of an exposure control value control range set according to a user's instruction, the exposure control value control range is changed to a range including the exposure control value set according to the user's instruction. | 10-25-2012 |
| 396241000 | With exposure filter | 5 |
| 20100098401 | FILTER MOVING SOLENOID SYSTEM FOR A CAMERA - A filter-moving solenoid system for use with a camera is provided. The filter-moving solenoid system includes a solenoid and an armature that has at least first and second operative positions and at least first and second contact segments. A first contact segment is held against or adjacent the solenoid when the armature is in a first operative position and a second contact segment is held against or adjacent the solenoid when the armature is in a second operative position. The filter-moving solenoid system is configured so that the armature is self-stable in each of the first and second positions, allowing the filter to selectively remain fixed in such positions without requiring the solenoid to be energized in so doing. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100178047 | CAMERA AUTO UV FILTER MODE - A portable communication device having a camera functionality including a camera lens and a UV filter element moveable into or out of a position covering the camera lens. The device includes an apparatus for detecting a light feature associated with an ambient light condition. The UV filter is automatically moved into or out of a position overlying the camera lens based upon the data determined from the light feature associated with the ambient light condition. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20130272689 | CAMERA MATTE BOX - A matte box system for a camera is presented, including one or more filter rings each capable of accommodating a filter or filter holder, the filter rings each having a substantially planar forward face and a substantially planar rear face, one face having one or more bearing elements and the other face having a corresponding bearing surface adapted to engage with the bearing element. The bearing surface includes one or more circular or arcuate channels, and the bearing element including a spring-loaded or otherwise biased surface that protrudes from the face and is urged in a generally axial direction to engage with the bearing surface such that the bearing surface and bearing element of consecutive filter rings allow the filter rings to independently rotate about the optical axis, while resisting radial movement of the filter rings. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20140178060 | LENS DEVICE AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A lens device ( | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140178061 | LENS DEVICE, CAMERA SYSTEM, AND EXPOSURE CONTROL METHOD - When a exposure controlling unit changes an aperture value of a diaphragm in a predetermined range, the exposure controlling unit also changes a transmittance of a variable ND filter so as to perform an exposure control and, after obtaining a proper exposure by changing both the aperture value and the transmittance, sets the aperture value after exposure control to Fa, and in a case where the aperture value at which a maximum resolving power is obtained is set to Fb, when a condition, Fa≠Fb, is satisfied and the transmittance is neither the minimum nor the maximum, the exposure controlling unit brings the aperture value close to Fb and changes the transmittance so as to maintain the proper exposure after the exposure control. | 06-26-2014 |
| 396242000 | Program mode | 5 |
| 20100220988 | Light quantity adjusting device, lens barrel, image pickup device, and method of controlling the image pickup device - A light quantity adjusting device includes a plate, an upper diaphragm blade, a lower diaphragm blade, and a diaphragm blade driving unit. The upper diaphragm blade has a semicircular upper main opening and a semicircular upper sub opening. The lower diaphragm blade has a semicircular lower main opening and a semicircular lower sub opening formed. The diaphragm blade driving unit is formed so as to be capable of switching between a state in which a circular main diaphragm opening is formed by the upper main opening and the lower main opening with an optical axis being the center and a state in which a circular sub diaphragm opening that is smaller than the main diaphragm opening is formed by the upper sub opening and the lower sub opening with the optical axis being the center. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100239239 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOTION COMPENSATION - A motion compensation apparatus for a camera module with a half-shutter function is provided. The apparatus includes an initialization unit for selecting a subject, a motion of which is to be detected, from images secured in a half-shutter state, and calculates motion information of the subject; a tracking unit for tracking the selected subject and the motion information provided from the initialization unit, and calculates prediction information of the subject; and a controller for generating a control signal for controlling a speed of a shutter and a sensibility of an image sensor based on the prediction information provided from the tracking unit. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20110064399 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS CAPABLE OF DISPLAYING A IMAGE REPRESENTING AN OBJECT BRIGHTNESS THAT CAN BE SET AS A TARGET EXPOSURE BY EXPOSURE CONTROL, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image pickup apparatus which is capable of shooting a still image and a moving image and displaying an exposure parameter interlocking range. A light metering unit meters an object brightness. A camera microcomputer performs exposure control such that an exposure becomes equal to a target exposure determined based on a result of metering by the light metering unit. The camera microcomputer causes the image display section to display a first image representing the object brightness metered by the light metering unit and a second image representing an object brightness that can be set as the target exposure by the exposure control. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110194851 | CALIBRATION OF A LENS DEVICE - The invention relates to a calibration method in a camera with a P-Iris lens having an adjustable iris opening. The calibration comprise the steps of adjusting the size of the iris opening between a first opening position and a second opening position, recording a plurality of images during the adjusting, analyzing the images, and determining an iris opening, based on the analysis, that obtains a high quality image | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110206360 | CAMERA AND CONTROLLING METHOD FOR THE SAME - The present invention provides, a camera comprises: a photographing unit converting an image formed by a shooting lens into an electric signal; a subject brightness obtaining unit; an exposure computing unit computing a shutter speed and an aperture value; a shutter controlling a time period in which the photographing unit accumulates the electric signal; and an aperture control unit controlling an aperture value of an aperture unit that limits a quantity of light incident from the shooting lens, wherein the exposure computing unit calculates a deviation between a previous exposure amount and a proper exposure amount on the basis of brightness information relating to a previous exposure and output by the subject brightness obtaining unit, the aperture value of the aperture unit, and the shutter speed of the shutter, and computes an aperture value of the aperture unit for a subsequent exposure on the basis of the deviation. | 08-25-2011 |
| 396246000 | Shutter speed function only | 7 |
| 20090041447 | Focal plane shutter, photographing apparatus including the same, and photographing method for the photographing apparatus - Provided are a focal plane shutter, which can offer a live view function, and improve a control velocity of a shutter speed to reduce a time interval between shootings, a photographing apparatus including the focal plane shutter, and a photographing method for the photographing apparatus. The focal plane shutter includes: a front curtain; a rear curtain; a support part coupled to one side of the front curtain and the rear curtain; and a movable part movably contacting one side of the support part, wherein either the front curtain or the rear curtain is independently moved by the motion of the movable part. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090142048 | CAMERA APPARATUS HAVING SHUTTER CONTROL APPARATUS - A camera apparatus includes a lens module, an image detecting module, a shutter and a shutter control apparatus. The shutter is disposed between the lens module and the image detecting module. The shutter control apparatus has a switch for controlling the lens module and the shutter. The switch has a first trigger status and a second trigger status. While the switch produces the first trigger status, the lens module automatically focuses. By contrast, while the switch produces the second trigger status, the shutter control apparatus turns on/off the shutter, so that the image detecting module detects an image through the lens module. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090162047 | System and method for controlling shutter of image pickup device based on recognizable characteristic image - An image pickup device uses an image recognition system to control the actuation of an electronic shutter. The image pickup device has an optical lens that picks up an image through the electronic shutter and the image so picked up is detected by an image detection device and converted into image data that are applied to a temporary image holding memory of a micro-controller. The micro-controller carries out comparison of the image of a selected target that is picked up the optical lens with respect to a recognizable characteristic image contained in a recognizable characteristic image database. If the image of the selected target so picked up is recognized to match the recognizable characteristic image, then the micro-controller sends out a shutter control signal to control the actuation of the electronic shutter via a shutter control circuit to photograph and store the image of the target in an image storage memory. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090169195 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING STILL IMAGE - An exemplary method for capturing a still image includes: measuring a theoretic exposure time that is suitable for current ambient light conditions; controlling a charge coupled device image sensor to expose itself for a real exposure time according to the determined theoretic exposure time to capture an image signal; and adjusting the captured image signal according to a ratio of the theoretic exposure time to the real exposure time. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090290862 | Camera Body and Imaging Apparatus - A camera body is provided, to which an interchangeable lens is mountable, the interchangeable lens including a diaphragm and capable of sending driving speed information of the diaphragm. The camera body has a receiving unit operable to receive the driving speed information of the diaphragm from the interchangeable lens, an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image formed by the interchangeable lens to generate image data, a controller operable to set an imaging condition for the imaging unit, and a sending unit operable to send a control signal for changing brightness information of the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens. The controller sets the imaging condition for a period from a start to an end of a driving of the diaphragm according to the received driving speed information of the diaphragm when the sending unit sends the control signal to the interchangeable lens. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20110158628 | AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT METHOD OF CAMERA SAFE SHUTTER - An automatic adjustment method of camera safe shutter includes: count the number of taking pictures with the same exposure time and record their blur degree; determine whether the minimum among the taking pictures counts is arrived at a predetermined threshold, if yes, average all blur degree records which are related with the same exposure time to get an average blur index for each of the exposure times, if no, continue to count the number of taking pictures; determine the average blur indexes whether are all larger than a threshold value, if no, average several slowest exposure times whose average blur indexes are larger than the threshold value as a new safe shutter speed, if yes, select the fastest exposure time level among the levels which are slower than current safe shutter as a new safe shutter speed. Thereby, users can take clear pictures easily. | 06-30-2011 |
| 396256000 | Stepping motor | 1 |
| 20150301429 | SHUTTER DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS INCLUDING SHUTTER DEVICE - When a stepping motor is used as a driving source for a shutter device, if the stepping motor loses synchronization because of variations in load during driving or the like, it becomes unable to rotate a driving ring at that time, and this disables an exposure operation. In a first zone where a driven member is driven, but a light shielding member remains in a closed state or an open state, the motor drives the driven member in open-loop driving mode. In a second zone where the driven member is driven, and thus the light shielding member moves to the closed state or the open state, the motor drives the driven member in feed-back driving mode. | 10-22-2015 |
| 396257000 | Diaphragm function only | 21 |
| 20080199174 | CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS - A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20100220989 | CAMERA BODY AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A camera body includes an imaging unit for generating image data from an optical signal incident via the interchangeable lens, a detector for detecting a light quantity of the optical signal, a controller for setting an aperture value of a diaphragm of the interchangeable lens and an exposure condition which is a setting relating to exposure other than a setting of the diaphragm, a sending unit for sending a control signal for control with the set aperture value to the interchangeable lens, and a mode setting unit for selecting one from a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes includes a first mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value of the diaphragm and the exposure condition according to the detected light quantity during capturing of a moving image, and a second mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value with the exposure condition being fixed according to the detected light quantity during capturing of the moving image. An average drive speed of the diaphragm for automatically adjusting the aperture value in the second mode is slower than that in the first mode. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100232779 | Interchangeable lens and Camera body - An interchangeable lens which is mountable to a camera body and operates according to a command from the camera body includes a diaphragm operable to regulate an amount of light from a subject by changing an aperture, a drive unit operable to change the aperture of the diaphragm, and a lens controller operable to control the drive unit to change the aperture of the diaphragm according to an instruction received from the camera body. When the lens controller receives a new instruction from the camera body while changing the aperture of the diaphragm, the lens controller controls the drive unit to change the aperture of the diaphragm based on the new instruction without waiting for completion of the change of the aperture according to a previous instruction. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100284679 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING LENS UNIT - An imaging apparatus includes: continuous imaging mode setting means for setting a continuous imaging mode in which a plurality of captured images including first and second captured images are continuously acquired; and diaphragm control means for controlling a diaphragm in an imaging optical system, wherein in the continuous imaging mode, the diaphragm control means does not drive the diaphragm during a first period from the time of exposure for the first captured image to the time of exposure for the second captured image but maintains the state of the diaphragm at the time of exposure for the first captured image until the time of exposure for the second captured image. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110052176 | CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS - A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110229117 | INTERCHANGEABLE LENS AND CAMERA LENS SYSTEM - An interchangeable lens includes a diaphragm, a driving unit for driving thereof, an operation member for setting an aperture value thereof, a switching unit for switching the operation member between permission and inhibition, and a control unit for operating, when the interchangeable lens is mounted on a camera main body including no recognition unit to recognize information on the aperture value set by the operation member, the driving unit according to a diaphragm driving command from the camera main body if the switching unit is in a state of inhibiting the operation of the operation member, and operate the driving unit according to the aperture value set by the operation member if the switching unit is in a state of permitting the operation of the operation member, and giving a response to the camera main body in a form of operating the driving unit according to the diaphragm driving command. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110299844 | APERTURE CONTROLLING SYSTEM - An aperture controlling system includes a CMOS image sensor, a brightness encoder, an aperture and an aperture driving circuit. The brightness encoder is used for extracting brightness information sensed by the CMOS image sensor and converting the brightness information into digital codes. The aperture driving circuit includes a D/A converter, a motor coil driving circuit, an environment sensing module, a benchmark voltage generator and a motor. The motor is mechanically connected to the aperture. The motor coil driving circuit includes a voltage comparator. The input and the output of the D/A converter are respectively coupled to the brightness encoder and the inverting input of the voltage comparator. The input and the output of the benchmark voltage generator are respectively coupled to the environment sensing module and the non-inverting input of the voltage comparator. The output of voltage comparator is connected to the motor. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20120308219 | CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS - A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20130272690 | DOME-TYPE CAMERA AND APERTURE CONTROL METHOD - A dome-type camera includes a camera lens capable of rotating in a tilt direction, a dome cover for covering the camera lens, and an aperture control unit for controlling the amount of aperture of the camera lens. The amount of aperture is set to become smaller from an open value toward a closed value in accordance with the tilt angle of the camera lens becoming smaller from a zenith direction of the dome cover toward a horizontal direction. According to this dome-type camera, a desirable low tilt angle image with a reduced blur may be obtained even with a megapixel dome camera. | 10-17-2013 |
| 396259000 | Servo motor type | 11 |
| 396260000 | Using stepping motor | 11 |
| 20090279882 | Aperture control device and camera - An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20100220990 | DIAPHRAGM CONTROL APPARATUS OF INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA - A diaphragm control apparatus incorporated in a camera body, to which an interchangeable lens equipped with a diaphragm apparatus is detachably attached, the diaphragm apparatus including a diaphragm operatively-associated rod for driving an adjustable diaphragm to open and shut the adjustable diaphragm, and the diaphragm control apparatus including a slide member that is driven to move the diaphragm operatively-associated rod, the diaphragm control apparatus includes a diaphragm drive mechanism including a stepping motor and a lead screw which is driven to rotate by the stepping motor, wherein the slide member is moved by rotation of the lead screw, a position detector for detecting a position of the slide member, and a controller for adjusting an excitation phase of the stepping motor based on a stop position of the slide member detected by the position detector. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100226640 | CAMERA SYSTEM AND LENS APPARATUS - A camera system for driving a diaphragm by a stepping motor including first and second coils and capable of 2-phase driving, includes a display unit configured to display an image signal, a live view control unit configured to display image signals sequentially read from an image sensor in the display unit, and a control unit configured to set only one of the first and second coils to be in an energized state when the live view control unit displays the image signals in the display unit. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100329658 | DIAPHRAGM CONTROL APPARATUS OF INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA - A diaphragm control apparatus in a camera body includes a stepping motor, a lead screw thereof, wherein a slider is driven by the lead screw, a position detector, and a controller. When the stepping motor is in a free state, the slider allows a diaphragm operatively-associated rod to move to an initial position. The controller detects the slider origin position when the stepping motor is in the free state and drives the stepping motor stepwise to move the slider away from the origin position against a biasing force of a resilient biaser, and drives the stepping motor stepwise to move the slider toward the origin position while detecting the slider position; and sets an initial excitation pattern of the stepping motor upon a distance from the detected slider position to the origin position becoming less than a slider moving distance for one step of the stepping motor. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100329659 | DIAPHRAGM CONTROL APPARATUS OF INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA - A diaphragm control apparatus is provided in a camera body, in which a controller drives a stepping motor to move the slider away from an origin position, thereafter drives the stepping motor in the opposite direction toward the origin position, and thereafter detects the slider position after holding the stepping motor for a first waiting time upon a distance from the slider to the origin position becoming less than slider-moving distance for one step of the stepping motor. The controller causes the stepping motor to enter a free state upon a lapse of the first waiting time and detects the slider position upon a lapse of a second waiting time to set an initial excitation pattern from a difference between the slider position detected during the first waiting time and the slider position detected in the free state thereof and from the moving distance of the slider. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110058803 | Aperture control device and camera - An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110255852 | Aperture control device and camera - An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20120195582 | APERTURE CONTROL DEVICE AND CAMERA - An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20130129336 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - In an imaging apparatus including a stepping motor that drives a diaphragm, a favorable moving image exposure control is carried out while reducing electrical power required for holding the diaphragm position. When a rotor and the magnetic poles of a stator do not face each other in a first mode, a control unit of the stepping motor drives the rotor to a facing position, and shuts off the current in a coil. When the diaphragm driving does not occur in a second operation mode, the control unit of a stepping motor shuts off the current in the coil at the state where the rotor of the motor and the magnetic poles of the stator face each other. A holding current to be supplied to the motor is shut off in the first and second. The program profile of a diaphragm drive method and an exposure control is switched depending on the type of an imaging lens unit. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130195436 | DIAPHRAGM CONTROL APPARATUS OF INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA - A diaphragm control apparatus is provided with a controller. When a photographing lens is attached to a camera body and a power switch is turned from ON to OFF, a drive motor first moves a diaphragm device to a minimum aperture, and thereafter the drive motor is switched from power ON to OFF. Thus, any damage to the inside of camera body due to sunlight entering into the opening of the diaphragm device can be prevented, and also the structure of camera body can be simplified by reducing the number of parts. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130209081 | APERTURE CONTROL DEVICE AND CAMERA - An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member. | 08-15-2013 |
| 396261000 | Piezoelectric driven | 1 |
| 20100135649 | ACTUATOR BODY AND THROTTLE MECHANISM - The object of the present invention is to provide an actuator body and a throttle mechanism that are small and have a simple structure. The present invention comprises a polymer actuator | 06-03-2010 |
