Abstract:
The system includes a synchronous voltage-to-frequency converter connected to receive an analog input signal voltage and to generate a train of output pulses. A counter is connected to receive and count the ouput pulses and a digital register is connected to the counter for periodically receiving and storing the count in the counter. A conversion interval timer circuit is connected to control the operation of the counter and the register to determine a conversion interval during which the output pulses form the synchronous voltage-to-frequency converter are accumulated in the counter and then stored in the register. The conversion interval timer circuit is operable to determine the end of a prior conversion interval and the beginning of a new conversion interval in response to a predetermined phase of a predetermined cycle of the ac power line voltage. A timer is provided for exact measurement of the duration of each conversion interval and a multiplier is provided for multiplying the number stored in the register by a function which is a reciprocal of the exact duration measurement from the timer to hereby correct the number for variations in the conversion interval.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photometric device with a wide dynamic range.SOLUTION: A photometric device includes a constant current generation circuit, a fixed clock signal generation circuit which generates a fixed clock signal having a fixed frequency, a photoelectric conversion element, a variable clock signal generation circuit, and a digital signal generation circuit. The fixed clock signal generation circuit generates, from a constant current, a fixed clock signal that oscillates at a fixed frequency. The variable clock signal generation circuit generates, from photocurrent generated in the photoelectric conversion element, a variable clock signal that oscillates at a frequency proportional to an amount of photocurrent. The digital signal generation circuit sets a measurement period with use of the fixed clock signal, counts a number of pulses of the variable clock signal that oscillates during the measurement period, and generates a digital signal including the count value as data.
Abstract:
A photometric device with a wide dynamic range. The photometric device includes a constant current generation circuit (104), a fixed clock signal generation circuit (105) which generates a fixed clock signal having a fixed frequency, a photoelectric conversion element (100), a variable clock signal generation circuit (101), and a digital signal generation circuit (103). The fixed clock signal generation circuit generates a fixed clock signal that oscillates at a fixed frequency, from constant current. The variable clock signal generation circuit generates a variable clock signal that oscillates at a frequency proportional to the amount of photocurrent, from photocurrent generated in the photoelectric conversion element. The digital signal generation circuit sets a measurement period using the fixed clock signal, counts the number of pulses of the variable clock signal that oscillates for the measurement period, and outputs a digital signal including the count value as data.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately calculate an illuminance.SOLUTION: An imaging device comprises: an exposure control section for controlling plural exposure periods; a determination section for determining whether saturation has occurred, using at least one of plural pieces of data obtained in the exposure periods; and an illuminance calculation section which, if the determination section determines that the saturation has occurred, calculates the illuminance using a piece of data different from the piece of data used for the determination. If the average of the pieces of data is for example a threshold or more, the determination section determines that the saturation has occurred. This technique is applicable to an imaging device such as a CMOS.