Patent ID: 6040860
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An imaging apparatus comprising:an imaging element for outputting an image signal,an AGC circuit for controlling the gain of the image signal output from the imaging element,an AGC control means for controlling an output signal level of the AGC circuit to a constant level,a gradation compensation means for applying gradation compensation by varying a gain of each luminance level of the image signal output of the AGC circuit based on a gradation compensation coefficient,a feature quantity extraction means for extracting an image feature quantity from the image signal output of the AGC circuit,an image evaluation means for determining the amount of backlighting and strong normal lighting from the feature quantity extracted by the feature quantity extraction means, and outputting the degree of gradation compensation to be applied, anda gradation compensation suppression means for suppressing the degree of gradation compensation output from the image evaluation means and determining the gradation compensation coefficient according to a control signal from the AGC control means,wherein the gain of the gradation compensation means is controlled according to the gradation compensation coefficient of the gradation compensation suppression means, and the gradation-compensated image signal is output.