IP Library Granted Patent US 7,990,458
Granted Patent B2
US 7,990,458 · App. 12/331,706 · Granted Aug 2, 2011

Digital camera

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,990,458
App. No.
12/331,706
Granted
Aug 2, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A digital camera has an image-capturing device, an image processor, and a display. The image-capturing device creates a cleaning image which is used for pinpointing dust particles attached to an image sensor. The image processor creates an inverted cleaning image so that the top and bottom of a subject image provided on the image sensor match the top and bottom of a subject image included in the cleaning image. The display displays the inverted cleaning image.

Claims (21)

1. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing device that creates a cleaning image which is used for pinpointing dust particles attached to an image sensor;

an image processor that creates an inverted cleaning image so that the top and bottom of a subject image provided on the image sensor match the top and bottom of a subject image included in the cleaning image; and

a display that displays the inverted cleaning image.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1 , wherein said image processor creates the inverted cleaning image so that the right and left of an image formed on the image sensor match the right and left of the cleaning image.

3. The digital camera according to claim 2 , wherein said display is provided on the back of said digital camera, and displays the inverted cleaning image so that the top, bottom, right, and left of an image formed on the image sensor match the top, bottom, right, and left of the inverted cleaning image.

4. The digital camera according to claim 1 , further comprising an image-composing device that creates a combined cleaning image by combining the cleaning image and an orientation image which is used for discriminating the top, bottom, right, and left of the cleaning image, wherein said image processor creates the inverted cleaning image so that the top and bottom of a subject image provided on the image sensor match the top and bottom of a subject image included in the combined cleaning image, and wherein said display displays the inverted cleaning image.

5. The digital camera according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory that stores the inverted cleaning image and/or the combined cleaning image.

6. The digital camera according to claim 1 , further comprising a file-name determining device that assigns the cleaning image a file name indicating that the named file is an image used for cleaning.

7. The digital camera according to claim 1 , further comprising a file-information writing device that writes file information indicating the status of cleaning image into the cleaning image file.

8. A single-lens reflex camera comprising:

an image-capturing device that creates a cleaning image which is used for pinpointing dust particles attached to an image sensor;

an image processor that creates an inverted cleaning image so that the top and bottom of a subject image provided on the image sensor match the top and bottom of a subject image included in the cleaning image;

a display that displays the inverted cleaning image; and

an image-composing device that creates a combined cleaning image by combining the cleaning image and a lens mount image which illustrates a lens mount as seen from a lens of said single-lens reflex camera and is used for discriminating the top, bottom, right, and left of the cleaning image;

said image processor creating the inverted cleaning image so that the top and bottom of a subject image provided on the image sensor match the top and bottom of a subject image included in the combined cleaning image;

said display displaying the inverted cleaning image.

9. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera that comprises an image-capturing device that takes a cleaning image which is used for pinpointing dust particles attached to an image sensor, and an image processor that creates an inverted cleaning image so that the top and bottom of a subject image provided on the image sensor match the top and bottom of a subject image included in the cleaning image;

an external receiver device that is provided on the exterior of said digital camera, and that receives the inverted cleaning image from said digital camera; and

an external display that is provided on the exterior of said digital camera, and displays the inverted cleaning image.

Assignments (3)
CORPORATE SPLIT Recorded Dec 2, 2011
From: HOYA CORPORATION
To: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027315/0115 →
CORPORATE SPLIT Recorded Nov 4, 2011
From: HOYA CORPORATION
To: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027176/0673 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2008
From: KANZAKI, TOMOHIKO; HAMAMURA, TOSHIHIRO
To: HOYA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021955/0423 →