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.

Date of Patent:
Sep. 09, 2014

Filed:

Aug. 09, 2012
Applicants:

Shinichiro Hirooka, Fujisawa, JP;

Hirotomo Sai, Yokohama, JP;

Mari Ohbuchi, Yokohama, JP;

Inventors:

Shinichiro Hirooka, Fujisawa, JP;

Hirotomo Sai, Yokohama, JP;

Mari Ohbuchi, Yokohama, JP;

Assignee:

Hitachi Ltd, Tokyo, JP;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/225 (2006.01); H04N 5/232 (2006.01); H04N 5/235 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/2356 (2013.01); H04N 5/2355 (2013.01);
Abstract

In an imaging device with a wide dynamic range function by combining images, focus is controlled to establish an in-focus state for each image to enlarge the dynamic range with reducing blur, thereby improving visibility. The device includes an imaging unit with a variable focal distance focus lens, an exposure controller for controlling the imaging unit's exposure to implement several shooting operations for a subject with different sensitivity, a processing unit for processing a signal outputted from the imaging unit to generate an image signal and a focus evaluation value indicating focus degree, an image combining unit for combining signals generated by the processing unit and outputting the combined signal, the processing unit generates a focus evaluation value for each outputted signal and the focus controller controls the focus lens for shooting operations of the imaging unit with mutually different sensitivity values, based on focus evaluation values respectively associated therewith.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…