Image sensing means for digital camera and digital camera adopting the same
First Claim
12. A digital camera comprising (a) an imaging photography unit;
- (b) a digital signal processor;
(c) a data storage unit;
(d) an automatic focusing shutter; and
(e) an automatic focusing unit wherein the imaging photography unit comprises a focusing lens, a focusing lens driving unit, and an image sensing unit comprising a light-receiving surface that is divided into a chromatic sensing element and an achromatic sensing element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An image sensing unit with an improved structure and a digital camera adopting the same are provided. The image sensing unit for a digital camera includes a light-receiving surface having a plurality of pixel sensors arranged regularly on a two-dimensional region of a predetermined size, a scanning electronic circuit that outputs light incident onto the pixel sensors as an electric image signal that has undergone photoelectric conversion, and a color filter mosaic separated at a predetermined distance from the light-receiving surface in the light incidence direction. Here, the light-receiving surface is divided into a chromatic sensing element for receiving chromatic light entering through the color filter mosaic and the achromatic sensing element for receiving directly incident achromatic light that has not passed through the color filter mosaic. The digital camera adopting the image sensing unit can achieve smooth automatic focusing in a low brightness environment.
52 Citations
23 Claims
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12. A digital camera comprising
(a) an imaging photography unit; -
(b) a digital signal processor;
(c) a data storage unit;
(d) an automatic focusing shutter; and
(e) an automatic focusing unit wherein the imaging photography unit comprises a focusing lens, a focusing lens driving unit, and an image sensing unit comprising a light-receiving surface that is divided into a chromatic sensing element and an achromatic sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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15-1. The digital camera of claim 12, wherein the data storage unit comprises a temporary storage unit and a non-volatile storage unit.
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16-2. The digital camera of claim 12, wherein the image sensing unit comprises:
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(a) a light-receiving surface having a plurality of pixel sensors arranged regularly on a two-dimensional region of a predetermined size;
(b) a scanning electronic circuit that outputs an electric image signal of incident light contacting a plurality of pixel sensors that has undergone photoelectric conversion; and
(c) a color filter mosaic separated at a predetermined distance from the light-receiving surface in the direction of the incident light.
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23. A method for automatically focusing a digital camera, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining whether amount of light incident onto an image sensing unit is greater than a predetermined amount;
(b) if the amount of light incident onto the image sensing unit is greater than the predetermined amount, then performing automatic focusing using a signal from a chromatic sensing element; and
(c) if the amount of light incident onto the image sensing unit is less than the predetermined amount, then performing automatic focusing using a signal from an achromatic sensing element.
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Specification