Patent ID: 6593970
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An imaging apparatus comprising:imaging means including driving means for receiving separated red, green, and blue optical images and generating first red, first green, and first blue video signals with a first exposure interval and second red, second green, and second blue video signals with a second exposure interval substantially at the same time, said second exposure interval being shorter than said first exposure interval, said first red, green, and blue video signals respectively having first red, first green, and first blue effective detection ranges and said second red, green, and blue video signals respectively having second red, second green, and second blue effective detection ranges which are different from said first red, first green, and first blue effective detection ranges respectively but continuous; synchronizing means for synchronizing said first red, first green, and first blue video signals with second red, second green and second blue video signals every corresponding frame of said first red, first green, and first blue video signals and said second red, second green, and second blue video signals; exposure interval ratio detection means responsive to said driving means for detecting an exposure ratio between said first and second exposure intervals; gain adjusting means for respectively adjusting, through a mixing region, a difference between gains of said first red, first green, and first blue video signals and second red, second green and second blue video signals from said synchronizing means in accordance with said exposure ratio from said exposure interval ratio detection means; mixing control signal generation means for generating red, green, and blue mixing control signals respectively indicating mixing ratios between said first red, first green, and first blue video signals and second red, second green, and second blue video signals in accordance with said first red, first green, and first blue video signals and second red, second green, and second blue video signals; and combining means for generating and outputting combined red, green, and blue video signals from said first red, first green, and first blue video signals and second red, second green, and second blue video signals from said gain adjusting means in accordance with said red, green, and blue mixing control signals and levels of said first red, first green, and first blue video signals and second red, second green, and second blue video signals to have expanded red, green, and blue detection ranges such that said first red, first green, and first blue effective detection ranges arc connected to said second red, second green, and second blue video signals, respectively.