Illumination controller, illumination control method, and imaging apparatus

• US 7,783,187 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Frontech Limited (Fujitsu Limited), Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Frontech Limited (Fujitsu Limited), Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Shiohara, Morito, Katsumata, Yutaka, Hama, Soichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RHODES, JR, LEON W
• Application Number:
  US12/430,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20090202236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 362 11- 12, 348/370, 396/4, 396/155, 396/164, 396/225, 359591-598
• US Class Current: 396/155
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/28 Circuitry to measure or to take account of the object contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

An illumination controller for controlling an illumination device that irradiates an object to be photographed with illumination light. The illumination controller includes an introducing unit that introduces ambient light emitted to the object from a light source other than the illumination device; a processing unit that processes the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit to have a same characteristic as that of the illumination light; and an irradiation controlling unit that controls the ambient light processed by the processing unit so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination, from a same path as the irradiation path of the illumination light.

Claims

1. An illumination controller for controlling an illumination device that irradiates an object to be photographed with illumination light, the illumination controller comprising:

an introducing unit that introduces ambient light emitted to the object from a light source other than the illumination device;

a processing unit that processes the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit to have a same characteristic as that of the illumination light; and

an irradiation controlling unit that controls the ambient light processed by the processing unit so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination, from a same path as the irradiation path of the illumination light.

2. The illumination controller according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation controlling unit combines the ambient light processed by the processing unit with the illumination light, and controls the combined light so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination.

3. The illumination controller according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit processes a wavelength of the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit to be a same as the wavelength of the illumination light.

4. The illumination controller according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit processes a wavelength of the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit to be a same as the wavelength of the illumination light, by using a wavelength filter.

5. The illumination controller according to claim 1, wherein the introducing unit introduces the ambient light by using one or more of light guides, mirrors, optical fibers, and prisms.

6. The illumination controller according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit limits a light amount of each wavelength component that forms the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit.

7. The illumination controller according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit controls a light amount of the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit, by using a liquid crystal shutter or a piezoelectric mirror.

8. The illumination controller according to claim 2, wherein the irradiation controlling unit adjusts intensity of the illumination light based on intensity of the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit, combines the ambient light processed by the processing unit with the illumination light, and controls the combined light so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination.

9. A method of controlling an illumination device that irradiates an object to be photographed with illumination light, the method comprising:

introducing ambient light emitted to the object from a light source other than the illumination device;

processing the ambient light introduced by the introducing of the ambient light to have a same characteristic as that of the illumination light; and

controlling the ambient light processed by the processing of the ambient light so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination, from a same path as the irradiation path of the illumination light.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the controlling the ambient light combines the ambient light processed by the processing the ambient light with the illumination light, and controls the combined light so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination.

11. An imaging apparatus for irradiating an object with illumination light from an illumination device in order to photograph an image of the object, the imaging apparatus comprising:

an introducing unit that introduces ambient light emitted to the object from a light source other than the illumination device;

a processing unit that processes the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit to have a same characteristic as that of the illumination light;

an irradiation controlling unit that controls the ambient light processed by the processing unit so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination, from a same path as the irradiation path of the illumination light; and

an image acquiring unit for acquiring an image photographed by the irradiation controlling unit while the illumination light is irradiated.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

the irradiation controlling unit controls irradiation and non-irradiation of illumination, by synchronizing with a timing of photographing an image of the object, and

the image acquiring unit acquires an image of the object irradiated only with illumination, by taking a difference between an image photographed while being irradiated by the irradiation controlling unit, and an image photographed while not being irradiated by the irradiation controlling unit.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the irradiation controlling unit combines the ambient light processed by the processing unit with the illumination light, and controls the combined light so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit processes a wavelength of the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit to be a same as the wavelength of the illumination light.

15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the processing unit processes a wavelength of the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit to be a same as the wavelength of the illumination light, by using a wavelength filter.

16. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the introducing unit introduces the ambient light by using one or more of light guides, mirrors, optical fibers, and prisms.

17. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit limits a light amount of each wavelength component that forms the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit.

18. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the processing unit controls a light amount of the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit, by using a liquid crystal shutter or a piezoelectric mirror.

19. The imaging apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the irradiation controlling unit adjusts intensity of the illumination light based on intensity of the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit, combines the ambient light processed by the processing unit with the illumination light, and controls the combined light so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination.

20. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the irradiation controlling unit controls irradiation or non-irradiation of illumination, by using a liquid crystal shutter or a piezoelectric mirror.