Signal processing apparatus

• US 5,671,015 A
• Filed: 11/30/1992
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Kenji, Yagi, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHALWALA, BIPIN H
• Application Number:
  US07/982,969
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 358/209, 358/228, 358/213.27, 358/167, 358/174, 358/177, 348/207, 348/222, 348/229, 348/241, 348/257, 348/363, 348/362
• US Class Current: 348/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/72 Combination of two or more compensation controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/16 Circuitry for reinsertion of dc and slowly varying components of signal; Circuitry for preservation of black or white level

Abstract

A signal processing apparatus includes a first loop circuit for adjusting gains of a plurality of variable gain amplifiers to which signals output from a charge-coupled device (CCD) imager of multiple-channel reading type are applied, a control circuit for driving and controlling an iris in accordance with output signals from the plurality of variable gain amplifiers, a second loop circuit for adjusting levels of pilot signals to be superimposed upon the output signals of the CCD imager at a desired level, respectively, a third loop circuit for controlling levels of the pilot signals which are superimposed upon the output signals of the CCD imager so as to be coincident with each other, and a control unit for controlling the first loop circuit and the control circuit, the second loop circuit, and the third loop circuit so that they are operated in a time-division fashion.

Claims

1. A signal processing circuit for processing output signals from a CCD (charge-coupled device) imager of a multiple read-out type having horizontal and vertical blanking periods for receiving light signals from an iris and on which respective pilot signals are superimposed, comprising:

a plurality of variable gain amplifiers for receiving said output signals from said CCD imager to produce respective amplified signals;

a first loop circuit operable to adjust respective gains of said plurality of variable gain amplifiers;

an iris control circuit operable to control said iris on the basis of said amplified signals;

a second loop circuit operable at least once during each horizontal blanking period of said CCD image to similarly adjust said respective pilot signals at a desired level;

a third loop circuit operable at least once during each horizontal blanking period of said CCD imager to equalize the levels of said respective pilot signals; and

control means for controlling said first loop circuit, said iris control circuit, said second loop circuit, and said third loop circuit to operate during respective different time intervals in a predetermined cycle, said predetermined cycle being repeated at least once during each vertical blanking period of said CCD imager.

2. The signal processing circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first and second loop circuits include a detector circuit and a microcomputer.

3. The signal processing circuit according to claim 2, wherein said third loop circuit includes said detector circuit, said microcomputer and a buffer.

4. The signal processing circuit according to claim 2, wherein said second loop circuit includes a plurality of horizontal shift registers of said CCD imager.

5. The signal processing circuit according to claim 3, wherein said iris driving control circuit includes said detector circuit and said microcomputer.

6. The signal processing circuit according to claim 3, wherein said first, second and third loop circuits are operated in a time division manner in the order of said first, second and third loop circuits.

7. A camera, comprising:

an iris;

a CCD (charge-coupled device) imager of a multiple read-out type having horizontal and vertical blanking periods for receiving light signals from said iris and for superimposing respective pilot signals on said light signals;

a plurality of variable gain amplifiers for receiving output signals from said CCD imager to produce respective amplified signals;

a first loop circuit operable to adjust respective gains of said plurality of variable gain amplifiers;

an iris control circuit operable to control said iris on the basis of said amplified signals;

a second loop circuit operable at least once during each horizontal blanking period of said CCD imager to similarly adjust said respective pilot signals at a desired level;

a third loop circuit operable at least once during each horizontal blanking period of said CCD imager to equalize the levels of said respective pilot signals; and

control means for controlling said first loop circuit, said iris control circuit, said second loop circuit, and said third loop circuit to operate during respective different time intervals in a predetermined cycle, said predetermined cycle being repeated at least once during each vertical blanking period of said CCD imager.

8. The camera of claim 7, wherein said first and second loop circuits include a detector circuit and a microcomputer.

9. The camera of claim 8, wherein said CCD imager includes horizontal shift registers, and said second loop circuit includes a plurality of said horizontal shift registers of the CCD imager.

10. The camera of claim 8, wherein said third loop circuit includes said detector circuit, said microcomputer, and a buffer.

11. The camera of claim 9, wherein said iris control circuit includes said detector circuit and said microcomputer.

12. The camera of claim 9, wherein said first, second, and third loop circuits operate in a time division manner in the order of said first, second, and third loop circuits.