Patent ID: 6836288
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A video camera system comprising:an image sensor configured to capture an image in a frame period and provide an output signal representative of the image in the next frame period, the image capture being performed responsive to an input signal representative of a particular value of a variable integration time; an amplifier configured to amplify the output signal responsive to an input signal representative of a particular value of a variable gain; means for measuring a brightness parameter of the image represented by the output signal of the image sensor during a frame period, and responsive thereto, determining the integration time to be applied to the image sensor output signal in the frame period after the next, and the gain to be applied by the amplifier in the next frame period; and means for inputting the integration time and amplifier gain which results from the foregoing to the respective integration time and gain inputs of the image sensor and amplifier, respectively, whereby any adjustment in integration time which is represented by the foregoing is applied to the image sensor output signal capture in the frame period after the next, and any adjustment in amplifier gain which is represented by the foregoing is applied to amplification of the image sensor output signal in the next frame period.