Image device having a selectively adapted white balance control

• US 20030146984A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yuji, Sakaguchi, Norihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,212,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/223.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/88 for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control

Abstract

An imaging device is provided for reproducing light incident thereto as an image. The image device included a photodetector adapted to translate incident light of an image to a representative electronic signal. A white balance control configures the white balance of the representative electronic signal in accordance with a white balance gain value. A selector interface is operably linked to the white balance control. The selector interface selects among a plurality of predetermined values to set the white balance gain value in accordance with an imaging application. An adjustment interface adjusts the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values. A display of the imaging device provides information of the set value. The information includes a variable range of the set white balance gain value, the variable range including an indication the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values and a graphical representation thereof, relative to the degree of adjustment applied via the adjustment interface.

Claims

1. An imaging device comprising:

a photodetector adapted to translate incident light of an image to a representative electronic signal;

a white balance control configuring the white balance of the representative electronic signal in accordance with a white balance gain value;

a selector interface operably linked to the white balance control, the selector interface selecting among a plurality of predetermined values to set the white balance gain value in accordance with an imaging application;

an adjustment interface for manually adjusting the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values; and

a display, exhibiting information of the set value, wherein a variable range of the set white balance gain value is provided, the variable range including an indication of the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values and a graphical representation thereof, relative to the degree of adjustment applied via the adjustment interface.

2. The imaging device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined values include two types, each type corresponding to a color specific white balance gain, and, the display providing an orthogonal, graphical depiction corresponding to the variable range of one type relative to the other and the set value mark of each range being indicated by the display.

3. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the selector interface is a graphical user interface (GUI) of the display.

4. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment interface is a graphical user interface (GUI) of the display.

5. The imaging device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

a preset interface configured to set each one of the plurality of predetermined values, the display exhibiting a variable range indicating the present value of a selected one of the plurality of predetermined values during a preset setting mode.

8. The imaging device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

a preset interface means configured to set each one of the plurality of predetermined values, the display exhibiting a variable range indicating the present value of a selected one of the plurality of predetermined values during a preset setting mode.

11. An imaging device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the display provides a warning indicator to alert the user value of the white balance gain is adjusted beyond the variable range.

6. An imaging device comprising:

photodetector means for translating incident light of an image to a representative electronic signal;

white balance control means for configuring the white balance of the representative electronic signal in accordance with a white balance gain value;

manual selection means operably linked to the white balance control means for selecting among a plurality of predetermined values to set the white balance gain value in accordance with an imaging application;

operation means for manually adjusting the selected value of the plurality of values; and

display means for exhibiting information of the set value, wherein a variable range of the set white balance gain value is provided, the variable range including an indication of the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values and a graphical representation thereof, relative to the degree of adjustment applied via the adjustment interface.

7. The imaging device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the plurality of predetermined values include two types, each type corresponding to a color specific white balance gain, and, the display providing an orthogonal, graphical depiction corresponding to the variable range of one type relative to the other and the set value mark of each range being indicated by the display.

9. An imaging device comprising:

photodetector means for translating incident light of an image to a representative electronic signal;

white balance control means for configuring the white balance of the representative electronic signal in accordance with a white balance gain value;

manual selection means operably linked to the white balance control means for selecting among a plurality of predetermined values to set the white balance gain value in accordance with an imaging application;

adjustment means for manually adjusting the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values;

mode selection means for selecting between a manual setting mode and a further mode, the manual setting mode being initiated by the manual selection means and the manual selection means utilizes a set value provided prior to the selection of the manual setting mode; and

display means for exhibiting information of the set value, wherein a variable range of the set white balance gain value is provided, the variable range including an indication of the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values and a graphical representation thereof, relative to the degree of adjustment applied via the adjustment interface.

10. The imaging device in accordance with claim 9 further comprising:

memory means for storing the set value set just before the manual setting mode is selected; and

reset means for resetting the white balance gain on the set value stored by the memory means during the manual setting mode.

12. A method of setting a white balance gain value of an imaging device, the method comprising the steps of:

translating incident light of an image to a representative electronic signal;

configuring the white balance of the representative electronic signal in accordance with a white balance gain value;

manually selecting among a plurality of predetermined values to set the white balance gain value in accordance with an imaging application;

manually adjusting the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values; and

displaying information of the set value, wherein a variable range of the set white balance gain value is provided, the variable range including an indication of the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values and a graphical representation thereof, relative to the degree of adjustment applied via the adjustment interface.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

selecting between a manual setting mode and another mode, the manual setting mode being initiated by the manual selection means and the manual selection means utilizes a set value provided prior to the selection of the manual setting mode.

14. A computer readable carrier including computer program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of setting a white balance gain value of an imaging device, the method comprising the steps of:

translating incident light of an image to a representative electronic signal;

configuring the white balance of the representative electronic signal in accordance with a white balance gain value;

manually selecting among a plurality of predetermined values to set the white balance gain value in accordance with an imaging application;

manually adjusting the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values; and

displaying information of the set value, wherein a variable range of the set white balance gain value is provided, the variable range including an indication of the selected value of the plurality of predetermined values and a graphical representation thereof, relative to the degree of adjustment applied via the adjustment interface.