Patent ID: 7199821
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging apparatus which has white balance control means for detecting an achromatic portion of an image of an object on the basis of chrominance signals formed from an output signal that is obtained from an image pickup device via an optical system and indicative of said object image, controlling gains of said chrominance signals in accordance with a deviation amount of white balance detected from said achromatic portion, and controlling the white balance, object distance detecting means for detecting a distance to the object and outputting object distance detection information, and zoom value detecting means for detecting a zoom value of said optical system and outputting zoom value information, and executes a correcting operation of the white balance deviation, comprising: object brightness detecting means for detecting brightness of the object and outputting object brightness information; and white balance control amount adjustment value forming means for forming a white balance control amount adjustment value to adjust a white balance control amount for the gains of said white balance control means on the basis of the object brightness information which is output from said object brightness detecting means, the object distance detection information which is output from said object distance detecting means, and the zoom value information which is output from said zoom value detecting means, wherein the white balance control amount of said white balance control means is adiusted on the basis of said white balance control amount adiustment value. wherein said white balance control amount adjustment value forming means has: object distance threshold value selling means for forming an object distance threshold value for discriminating a magnitude of the distance to the object on the basis of said object brightness information and said zoom value information; and white balance control amount adjustment value setting means for comparing said object distance detection information with said object distance threshold value information and obtaining said white balance control amount adjustment value according to a result of said comparison.