IP Library Granted Patent US 7,995,135
Granted Patent B2
US 7,995,135 · App. 12/053,654 · Granted Aug 9, 2011

Image capturing apparatus for adjusting an exposure value that is set lower than the correct exposure value

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,995,135
App. No.
12/053,654
Granted
Aug 9, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an image capturing apparatus, a hue shift is prevented. A digital camera has a gray level correction function. Image data obtained with a CCD 10 is divided into a plurality of blocks and further has brightness data and color difference data converted in a brightness/color difference conversion section 20 . When it is determined, based on the color difference data, that image data includes blue sky image or that chroma of the image data is high, an image processing exposure compensation adjustment/exposure correction amount calculation section 30 sets an underexposure value, which is employed when capturing images with an exposure value being lower than a correct exposure value, to be smaller than a default value to prevent a hue shift caused by gray level correction performed by a gray level correction section 32.

Claims (12)

1. An image capturing apparatus for capturing an image of a subject, comprising:

exposure control means which calculates a correct exposure value;

image correction means which applies gray level correction to image data of an image captured with an exposure value being set lower than the correct exposure value; and

adjustment means which adjusts an exposure value which is to be set lower than the correct exposure value by determining whether or not color data of the image data prior to the gray level correction performed by the image correction means satisfies a particular condition;

wherein the adjustment means provides data concerning an amount of adjustment to the image correction means, and the image correction means uses the data concerning an amount of adjustment to adjust a correction amount; and

wherein blue sky image data in the image data causes the adjustment means to set the exposure value which is to be set lower than the correct exposure value to a value whose amount of the exposure compensation is smaller than a default value.

2. An image capturing apparatus for capturing an image of a subject, comprising:

exposure control means which calculates a correct exposure value;

image correction means which applies gray level correction to image data of an image captured with an exposure value being set lower than the correct exposure value; and

adjustment means which adjusts an exposure value which is to be set lower than the correct exposure value by determining whether or not color data of the image data prior to the gray level correction performed by the image correction means satisfies a particular condition;

wherein the adjustment means provides data concerning an amount of adjustment to the image correction means, and the image correction means uses the data concerning an amount of adjustment to adjust a correction amount; and

wherein saturated color data of the image data causes the adjustment means to set the exposure value which is to be set lower than the correct exposure value to a value whose amount of the exposure compensation is smaller than a default value.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2023
From: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES FUND 83 LLC
To: MONUMENT PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 064599/0304 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2017
From: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES FUND 83 LLC
To: MONUMENT PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041941/0079 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES FUND 83 LLC
Reel/Frame 030221/0362 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Feb 1, 2013
From: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.; WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; EASTMAN KODAK INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL COMPANY, INC.; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; FPC INC.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 029913/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2012
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
To: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 028201/0420 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2008
From: UEZONO, TETSUJI
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 020727/0144 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2007-335469 · Dec 27, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090167891A1 · Jul 2, 2009