CAMERA HAVING IMPROVED IMAGE QUALITY

• US 20030133021A1
• Filed: 07/22/1998
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: KUBO, HIROAKI, HAMAMURA, TOSHIHIRO
• Application Number:
  US09/120,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20030133021A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/229.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/72 Combination of two or more compensation controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

Under exposure determination unit 212 determines whether or not there is under exposure during exposure set using a hand vibration time limit. When a suitable exposure time is longer than the hand vibration time limit, the exposure time is increased by increasing the gain set for the hand vibration time limit. When a flash is used, the distance the emitted light of the flash must reach is determined from the flash guide number and open aperture value, and a determination is made as to whether or not the light emitted by the flash will reach the photographic subject. Under exposure is determined when the distance to the photographic subject is longer than the distance attained by the light emitted from the flash, and the gain is adjusted in accordance therewith.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

an image sensing device having photoelectric conversion elements for receiving light from a subject;

an amplifier for amplifying a signal output from said image sensing device by a predetermined gain;

a photometer for measuring the luminance of said subject;

an exposure time determining portion for determining the exposure time of said photoelectric conversion elements via an output of said photometer; and

a changer for comparing said exposure time with a predetermined time and changing an exposure time and gain in accordance with a result of said comparison.

2. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said changer sets the exposure time as the predetermined time when the exposure time is longer than the predetermined time.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein said changer increases the gain.

4. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said changer changes the gain in accordance with a difference between the exposure time and the predetermined time.

5. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera operates the image sensing device in accordance with the exposure time and gain changed by the changer.

6. A camera comprises:

an image sensing device having photoelectric conversion elements for receiving light from a subject;

an amplifier for amplifying a signals output from said image sensing device by a predetermined gain;

a rangefinder for measuring the distance to said subject;

an illumination device for illuminating said subject when said image sensing device operates;

a determination portion for determining whether or not the light emitted by said illumination device reaches said subject; and

a controller for controlling the gain when the result of said determination is that the illumination light does not reach said subject.

7. A camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein said controller controls the gain in accordance with an information obtained by said rangefinder.

8. A camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein said camera operates the image sensing device in accordance with the gain controlled by the controller.

9. A signal processing method in an apparatus having an image sensor, comprising:

a amplifying step of amplifying a signal output from the image sensor by a predetermined gain;

a comparing step of comparing an exposure time of said image sensor with a predetermined time; and

a changing step of changing the exposure time and gain in accordance with a result of said comparison.

10. A signal processing method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said changing step sets the exposure time as the predetermined time when the exposure time is longer than the predetermined time.

11. A signal processing method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said changing step changes the gain in accordance with a difference between the exposure time and the predetermined time.

12. A signal processing method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said image sensor is operated in accordance with the exposure time and gain changed in the changing step.