Patent · US Active

Endoscope apparatus for obtaining properly dimmed observation images

US7573499B2 · kind B2 · utility

69Cited by
9References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 22, 2004
Grant dateAug 11, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 26, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N23/555
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A CCD driver circuit adjusts and supplies pulse-type signals to a CCD in order to adjust the sensitivity of the CCD. A metering circuit meters a signal output from the CCD. A sensitivity control circuit controls the sensitivity of the CCD by controlling the sensitivity multiplication factor of the CCD based on a metering result by the metering circuit. A metering correcting circuit corrects a metering result from the metering circuit based on a charge multiplication factor from the sensitivity control circuit. An aperture control circuit controls an aperture based on a metering signal corrected by the metering correcting circuit. Thus, an image of an object of which strength of light largely varies can be obtained as an image under a proper dimming state.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.