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Class 396/157 - Having preexposure illumination


Subclass of Class 396 - Photography
Definition: Subject matter in which the illumination means operates
No. of patents: 174
Last issue date: 05/01/2012


1          
NumberTitleIssue Date
8170409Method and apparatus for controlling flash emission
In a method and apparatus for controlling flash emission, the brightness during pre-emission may be accurately measured even when operating an image sensor using a rolling shutter. When pre-emission of flash light is performed, partial exposure during the pre-emissi...
05/01/2012
8098986Camera with light emitting function
For flash photography, a rise of a flash emission control pulse precedes emission timing by a predetermined period. A start of flash emission of a flash lamp precedes a start of exposure of an image sensor. Since the start of the emission is earlier than the start o...
01/17/2012
8090253Photographing control method and apparatus using strobe
Provided are a photographing control method and apparatus. The photographing control method includes: obtaining image data from a subject during pre-emission of a strobe, detecting a face region of the subject based on the obtained image data, and performing a calcu...
01/03/2012
8073321Controlling an exposure time for digital cameras
Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which a digital photography device includes a global shutter to control exposure time, a sensor array, and a flash illumination are described. The global shutter is in the optical path of light going to the sensor. The fl...
12/06/2011
8041206Imaging apparatus and method for controlling flash emission
An imaging apparatus includes: flash driving means for driving a flash during a set preliminary emission period and a set main emission period; and an image sensor constituted by a plurality of photoelectric converting elements which are arranged in a matrix and cap...
10/18/2011
7945154Information communication device and external device
An information communication device includes: a packet generation unit that generates a packet including timing data at an end of the packet for specifying to an external device a start timing for processing related to photography; a transmitting unit that transmits...
05/17/2011
7925150Camera system, camera body, flash device, and illumination method
A camera system includes: a light emitting unit that performs a main emission of light in which during photography a photographic subject is illuminated with a first light having a first color temperature, and a preparatory emission of light in which the photographi...
04/12/2011
7912365Image capture apparatus with charged capacitor switching device for photoflash
A charged capacitor switching device for a photoflash is provided and includes a flash control unit, a capacitor charging/discharging unit, a charged capacitor switching unit and an illumination modulator. The capacitor charging/discharging unit coupled to the flash...
03/22/2011
7885532Image sensing apparatus with pre-flash and image sensing method for calculating flash illumination amount using degree of convergence
An image sensing method and image sensing apparatus, including a subject detection unit and a flash unit, are provided. The method includes a first detection step of detecting a subject from image data obtained during preparation for main image sensing, a second det...
02/08/2011
7835638Image recording apparatus, image recording method, and computer-readable recording medium
An image recording apparatus includes an image sensing part for converting an optical image imaged by a photograph lens to an electric signal, a distance measuring part for measuring a distance between a target object and the image recording apparatus, an illuminati...
11/16/2010
7813636Imaging apparatus, camera system, and controlling method therefor
A camera system that enables to stabilize, when photographing by using a flash apparatus in a live view state, the time lag between pressing the release button and starting the imaging operation thereafter, and also enables to execute the photographing with the shor...
10/12/2010
7801436Photography apparatus, photography method, and photography program
In order to prevent white compression from occurring in an image obtained by photography with a photography apparatus such as a digital camera, preliminary photography is carried out and actual photography is carried out while a flash control unit reduces an amount ...
09/21/2010
7764880Pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus, for controlling actual flash amount at the time of exposure based on an amount of reflected light from a predetermined metering region of a screen, comprises a first screen dividing section for dividing the screen into a first region, cons...
07/27/2010
7697835Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an emission device for illuminating a subject, a preliminary emission control device for controlling preliminary emission before photographing, a photometry device for measuring a reflected light volume from the subject in the prelimina...
04/13/2010
7680410Imaging device equipped with flash unit
Upon depression of a release button, pre-shooting is performed before regular shooting. In the pre-shooting, flash of a predetermined amount is emitted and exposure of an image sensor is performed. A shooting frame is divided into small areas. As to each of the smal...
03/16/2010
7676148Camera, computer program product, and amount of light to be emitted calculation method
A camera includes: a photometric unit that acquires two dimensional photometric information of an image of a photographic subject; a separation unit that separates the image of the photographic subject into two groups, based upon photometric information acquired by ...
03/09/2010
7606479Image-taking apparatus
A digital camera is provided with an emission section which emits independently controlled light to each of multiple emission areas and a light measurement/distance measurement CPU which calculates the amount of light to be emitted at actual emission based on the am...
10/20/2009
7551848Photographic light system, imaging device and method for providing different types of photographic light using a single multifunctional light module
A photographic light system, imaging device and method for providing different types of photographic light uses a single multifunctional light module to produce the different types of photographic light. The multifunctional light module includes a number of semicond...
06/23/2009
7505681Camera and control method therefor
In a circumstance in which light is emitted from many electronic flashes, e.g., a press conference hall or a wedding hall, light emission from other electronic flashes overlaps preliminary light emission performed before main light emission. This decreases the photo...
03/17/2009
7480454Mobile equipment and mobile phone with shooting function
Mobile equipment includes LEDs supplied with a current to emit red light, green light and blue light, FETs and a booster circuit for controlling the current supplied. The current supplied is controlled to supply all of the LED with a current of a low level to illumi...
01/20/2009
7433590Method of low intensity lighting for high speed image capture
A system for synchronizing image capture and a light source has a first strobing light emitting diode (LED) array with a plurality of LEDs located to light an illumination area. The LED array has an on cycle during which the LED array is activated and an off cycle d...
10/07/2008
7428378Controlling an exposure time for digital cameras
Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which a digital photography device includes a global shutter to control exposure time, a sensor array, and a flash illumination are described. The global shutter is in the optical path of light going to the sensor. The fl...
09/23/2008
7420613Method for controlling flash apparatus, wherein preliminary flashing is performed one time
A flash apparatus to perform preliminary flashing, detect an average brightness of surroundings in synchronization with a periodic signal subsequent to the preliminary flashing, and set main flashing time according to the detected average brightness, is controlled b...
09/02/2008
7414667Image sensing apparatus, image processing apparatus, and control method therefor for relaxing a red-eye effect
This invention makes it possible to execute photography with a sufficient red-eye relaxation effect. To do this, in this invention, the amount of a red eye is detected on the basis of a signal obtained by reading an object image under light projection by a light pro...
08/19/2008
7379115Image capturing apparatus and image capturing system
A photocurrent corresponding to the intensity of the light from the subject which photocurrent is successively generated at predetermined intervals is converted into a voltage by being logarithmically compressed by a logarithmic compression circuit in a divisional c...
05/27/2008
7359000Image pickup apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable program for implementing the control method
There is provided an image pickup apparatus that is capable of eliminating the influence of errors attributed to differences in characteristics between lens devices attached to the image pickup apparatus such as a camera or errors attributed to differences in charac...
04/15/2008
7359632Flash apparatus, image capture apparatus having a flash apparatus, and method of controlling a flash apparatus
A flash apparatus or an image capture apparatus includes a charging unit, configured to boost a voltage of an electric source and a control unit, configured to calculate the sum of the light emission amount within a predetermined period of time. The control unit red...
04/15/2008
7336307Camera having accumulation operation in the period between the time of fully opening a leading shutter and the time of starting of a trailing shutter
Disclosed is a camera including: an image-taking device; a shutter unit having a first shutter member that travels from a position where a shutter opening is closed to a position which is retreated from the opening, and a second shutter member that travels from the ...
02/26/2008
7333145Camera module
A camera module comprising an image sensor array, a gain amplifier, an indicator set to indicate whether a first flash device or a second flash device is present, and a plurality of storage locations. The plurality of storage locations is configured to store an expo...
02/19/2008
7312818Iris image pickup apparatus
An optical axis of a telephotographic camera for picking up an enlarged image of an iris is placed between guide unit for guiding a subject K into a range in which an iris image can be picked up and direction indication guide unit for indicating the direction in whi...
12/25/2007
7277630Mobile equipment and mobile phone with shooting function
Mobile equipment includes LEDs supplied with a current to emit red light, green light and blue light, FETs and a booster circuit for controlling the current supplied. The current supplied is controlled to supply all of the LED with a current of a low level to illumi...
10/02/2007
7272304Image sensing device and control method thereof
An image sensing device allows to shoot an image using correct object distance information and light emitting amount when the main light emitting amount upon shooting an object image is calculated by making the pre-light emission after the auto-focusing process. Whe...
09/18/2007
7255676Electronic endoscope apparatus which stores image data on recording medium
An electronic endoscope apparatus which records image data of an object under observation on a recording medium has an image storage memory capable of storing current image data for at least one examination in response to an image capture command and transfers the i...
08/14/2007
7254321Image capturing apparatus, image capturing method, and computer program
An image capturing apparatus in which the ratio between the brightness just before preliminary light emission and the brightness at preliminary light emission is calculated for each of a plurality of photometric areas. The highest ratio among the ratios in the areas...
08/07/2007
7236697Device for driving light emitting diode for flash of camera
Disclosed herein is a device for driving a LED for a flash of a camera, such as a digital camera or a camera of a mobile phone, which is capable of driving the LED in two modes to reduce power consumption. The LED drive device comprises the LED, a continuous low cur...
06/26/2007
7224501Light-emitting device and apparatus having the same
A light-emitting device is disclosed which allows efficient irradiation of light from a plurality of light sources to achieve a predetermined light emission characteristic and has a small size. The light-emitting device has an optical member which includes a first r...
05/29/2007
7184658Automatic flash switching rotational strobe frame
In the realm of professional photography, and those amateur wanting professional results, when photographing people, the illumination devices must be located directly above and on the centerline of the camera lens. This is the desired effect as not to have shadows b...
02/27/2007
7143639Launch monitor
A launch monitor that includes substantially all of its functional components on or within a housing is disclosed. In one embodiment, the launch monitor is capable of being transported and used in any desired location. One or more camera's, flashes, and triggers may...
12/05/2006
7139472Camera system
A camera executes a photographing operation with multiple flashes. The camera includes a photometering unit and a control unit. The control unit controls light emission at a first electronic flash unit which is either built into or externally mounted at the camera a...
11/21/2006
7139474Mobile equipment and mobile phone with shooting function
Mobile equipment includes LEDs supplied with a current to emit red light, green light and blue light, FETs and a booster circuit for controlling the current supplied. The current supplied is controlled to supply all of the LED with a current of a low level to illumi...
11/21/2006
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