The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 08, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 04, 2008
Takashi Tanimoto, Motosu-gun, JP;
Takashi Tanimoto, Motosu-gun, JP;
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Moriguchi, JP;
Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Ora, JP;
Abstract
An imaging apparatus for capturing a synthesized image of a visible-spectrum image and an infrared-spectrum image implements a proper synthesis balance without amplification of the signal of the infrared-spectrum image obtained by a solid-state image sensor or attenuating the visible light incident on the image sensor. A visible light source () and an excitation light source () are provided separately. The visible-spectrum image and the infrared-spectrum image, which is based on infrared fluorescent light emitted from a fluorescent substance in response to excitation light, are captured separately by a single image sensor () using staggered exposure periods. A signal-processing circuit () synthesizes the two images. The synthesis balance is adjusted by the exposure time or the respective illumination intensities of the two light sources.