IP Library Granted Patent US 8,120,668
Granted Patent B2
US 8,120,668 · App. 12/400,159 · Granted Feb 21, 2012

Electronic camera for adjusting a parameter for regulating an image quality based on the image data outputted from an image sensor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,120,668
App. No.
12/400,159
Granted
Feb 21, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic camera includes a pre-processing block. The pre-processing block fetches four partial images outputted in a parallel manner from an image sensor in response to a clock CLK 1 having a frequency equal to or less than 432 MHz, and performs four pre-processes that have responded to a clock CLK 2 having a frequency ¼ the frequency of the clock CLK 1 , on each of the fetched four partial images. An image based on the processed four partial images is outputted from an LCD monitor. An evaluation-image producing circuit responds to a clock CLK 3 so as to create an evaluation image based on the processed four partial images. A frequency of the clock CLK 3 is adjusted in a range in which ¼ of 432 MHz is the upper limit. A parameter for regulating a quality of an output image is adjusted based on the evaluation image thus created.

Claims (11)

1. An electronic camera, comprising:

an imager which respectively outputs N (N: an integer of equal to or more than 2) partial images, each of which partially represents a scene captured on an imaging surface, from N output terminals, in response to a first clock having a frequency of equal to or less than a first frequency;

a processor which respectively performs N predetermined processes that respond to a second clock having a frequency 1/N the frequency of the first clock, on N partial images outputted from said imager;

an outputter which outputs an image based on N partial images processed by said processor;

a creator which creates an evaluation image based on N partial images outputted from said imager, in response to a third clock;

a frequency adjuster which adjusts a frequency of the third clock within a range in which 1/N the first frequency is an upper limit; and

a parameter adjuster which adjusts a parameter for regulating a quality of the image outputted by said outputter, based on the evaluation image created by said creator.

2. An electronic camera according to claim 1 , wherein said frequency adjuster includes a selector which selects anyone of the first clock and the second clock as the third clock a first requestor which requests said selector to select the first clock when a frequency of the first clock is equal to or less than 1/N of the first frequency, and a second requestor which requests said selector to select the second clock when a frequency of the first clock is more than 1/N of the first frequency.

3. An electronic camera according to claim 1 , wherein a resolution of the evaluation image created by said creator depends on a frequency of the third clock.

4. An electronic camera according to claim 1 , wherein said parameter adjuster includes a distance adjuster which adjusts a distance from an optical lens to said imaging surface based on the evaluation image.

5. An electronic camera according to claim 1 , wherein said outputter includes a first image outputter which outputs the image toward a monitor, and a second image outputter which outputs the image toward a recording medium.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER 13/446,454, AND REPLACE WITH 13/466,454 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 032467 FRAME 0095. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Recorded Apr 3, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: XACTI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032601/0646 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: XACTI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032467/0095 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S ADDRESS TO 5-5 KEIHANHONDORI 2-CHOME, MORIGUCHI-SHI, OSAKA, JAPAN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 022387 FRAME 0418. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 27, 2009
From: KUROKAWA, MITSUAKI
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022462/0881 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2009
From: KUROKAWA, MITSUAKI
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022387/0418 →