Color CCD imager having a system for preventing reproducibility degradation of chromatic colors

• US 5,253,047 A
• Filed: 09/16/1991
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Machishima, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, KIM Y
• Application Number:
  US07/760,503
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 358/41, 358/43, 358/44, 358/29, 358/32, 358/39, 358/31
• US Class Current: 348/224.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/88 for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control

Abstract

A color video camera according to the present invention includes a color temperature detector for detecting a color temperature of a video source and a primary color separator, wherein matrix coefficients of the primary color separator are controlled in accordance with an output of the color temperature detector in such a manner that, for example, when the color temperature of a video source is low, that is, the color of a video source is reddish, red and blue components of the video source are corrected to be weakened and intensified respectively. On the contrary, when the color temperature of a video source is high, that is, the color of a video source is bluish, the red and blue components of the video source are corrected to be intensified and weakened respectively, whereby the degradation of the color reproducibility of the chromatic colors due to the change in the color temperature can be prevented.

Claims

1. A color video camera, comprising:

(a) a color imager including a color sensing device means for producing a plurality of different chrominance signals line-by-line and means for producing a luminance signal;

(b) a luminance/chrominance (Y/C) signal processor means supplied with the luminance signal and the plurality of different chrominance signals for producing first, second and third primary color signals, said Y/C signal processor means having a matrix circuit with predetermined matrix coefficients;

(c) means for detecting a color temperature of a video source;

(d) control means for controlling the matrix coefficients in response to the output of said detecting means; and

(e) means connected to receive said first, second, and third primary color signals and for outputting a video signal.

2. A color video camera according to claim 1, in which said color sensing device has a color filter disposed on the surface thereof.

3. A color video camera according to claim 2, in which said color filter is formed as a mosaic pattern, said mosaic pattern including:

a first type color sensing element;

a second type color sensing element arranged in a neighboring position of the horizontal scanning direction with respect to the position of the first type color sensing element;

a third type color sensing element arranged in a neighboring position of the vertical scanning direction with respect to the position of the first type color sensing element; and

a fourth type color sensing element arranged in a neighboring position of the horizontal scanning direction with respect to the position of the third type color sensing element.

4. A color video camera according to claim 3, in which the positions of said first and second type color sensing elements are exchanged to each other, line by line, in the horizontal scanning direction.

5. A color video camera according to claim 3, in which said first type color sensing element is sensitive to a magenta region of the spectrum response, said second type color sensing element is sensitive to a green region of the spectrum response, said third type color sensing element is sensitive to a yellow region of the spectrum response, and said fourth type color sensing element is sensitive to a cyan region of the spectrum response.

6. A color video camera according to claim 1, in which said matrix circuit includes a plurality of gain control amplifiers, and each gain of said gain control amplifiers being controlled in response to the output of said detecting means.

7. A color video camera according to claim 1, in which said color imager includes a charge coupled device.

8. A camera according to claim 1 wherein said signal processor means includes a white balance circuit means for reproducing a white object as a white image and wherein said control means also adjusts white balance dependent upon the color temperature of the video source.

9. A color video camera, comprising:

a color imager including a color sensing device means for producing at least two different chrominance signals and means for producing a luminance signal;

primary color separator means having input thereto said luminance signal and said different chrominance signals and for outputting, by use of a matrix, primary color signals;

white balance circuit means receiving said primary color signals and for outputting white balance adjusted primary color signals;

color temperature detecting means for detecting color temperature of a video source;

control means connected to said color temperature detecting means for controlling matrix coefficients of said matrix in said primary color separator means and for controlling white balance in said white balance means depending on detected color temperature of the video source; and

means connected to receive said adjusted primary color signals and for outputting a video signal.

10. A camera according to claim 9 wherein said white balance means reproduces a white object as a white image by adjusting gain of the primary color signals.

11. A camera according to claim 9 wherein two chrominance signals are input to said primary color separator means along with said luminance signal, and said white balance means outputs white balance adjusted RGB primary color signals.

12. A color video camera having a color temperature compensation circuit, comprising:

a color image sensor means for producing an output signal comprising a plurality of different chrominance signals line-by-line;

a luminance/chrominance (Y/C) signal processor means supplied with the output signal from said color image sensor means for producing a luminance signal and the plurality of different chrominance signals;

a primary color separator means supplied with said luminance signal and said plurality of different chrominance signals for producing first, second, and third primary color signals (R, G, B) and having a matrix circuit with predetermined matrix coefficients;

means for detecting a color temperature of a video source; and

control means for controlling the matrix coefficients of said primary color signal in response to an output from said detecting means.