Charge-coupled device video camera with raw data format output and software implemented camera signal processing

A video image capturing apparatus for capturing, processing and displaying video images comprising:

• a. a video camera including:
• i. an imaging device to capture frame images;
• and
• ii. a camera interface circuit coupled to the imaging device to receive the frame images;
• and
• b. a host receiving device not included within the video camera including:
• i. a host interface circuit coupled to the camera interface circuit to receive the frame images in a raw data format and to transmit control signals to the video camera;
• and
• ii. a processing circuit coupled to the host interface circuit to receive the frame images in the raw data format, convert the frame images into a video format and to determine appropriate values of the control signals wherein the control signals include a shutter control signal and an automatic gain control signal.

A video image capturing apparatus for capturing, processing and displaying video images comprising:

• a. a video camera including:
• i. an imaging device to capture frame images;
• and
• ii. a camera interface circuit coupled to the imaging device to receive the frame images;
• and
• b. a host receiving device separate from the video camera including:
• i. a host interface circuit coupled to the camera interface circuit to receive the frame images in a raw data format and to transmit control signals to the video camera;
• ii. a processing circuit coupled to the host interface circuit to receive the frame images in the raw data format, convert the frame images into a video format and to determine appropriate values of the control signals;
• iii. a display device coupled to the processing circuit to receive and display the video format of the frame images;
• and
• iv. a graphical user interface displayed on the display device including a video window through which the video format of the frame images is displayed wherein the control signals include a shutter control signal and an automatic gain control signal.

A video image capturing apparatus for capturing, processing and displaying video images comprising:

• a. a video camera including:
• i. an imaging device to capture frame images;
• and
• ii. a camera interface circuit coupled to the imaging device to receive the frame images;
• and
• b. a host receiving device not included within the video camera including:
• i. a host interface circuit coupled to the camera interface circuit to receive the frame images in a raw data format and to transmit control signals to the video camera, wherein the control signals include a shutter control signal and an automatic gain control signal;
• ii. a processing circuit coupled to the host interface circuit to receive the frame images in the raw data format, convert the frame images into a video format and to determine appropriate values of the control signals;
• and
• iii. a display device coupled to the processing circuit to receive and display the video format of the frame images and to determine appropriate vales of the control signals;
• wherein a histogram is developed by the processing circuit in order to continually adjust the control signals and to determine a gain change ratio.

A video image capturing apparatus for capturing, processing and displaying video images comprising:

• a. a video camera including:
• i. an imaging device to capture frame images;
• and
• ii. a camera interface circuit coupled to the imaging device to receive the frame images;
• and
• b. a host receiving device separate from the video camera including:
• i. a host interface circuit coupled to the camera interface circuit to receive the frame images in a raw data format and to transmit control signals to the video camera;
• ii. a processing circuit coupled to the host interface circuit to receive the frame images in the raw data format, convert the frame images into a video format and to determine appropriate values of the control signals;
• iii. a display device coupled to the processing circuit to receive and display the video of the frame images;
• and
• iv. a graphical user interface displayed on the display device including a video window through which the video format of the frame images is displayed;
• wherein a histogram is developed by the processing circuit to determine a gain change ratio and to continually adjust the control signals and further wherein the graphical user interface includes a histogram window through which the histogram is displayed.

A video image capturing apparatus for capturing, processing and displaying video images comprising:

• a. a histogram used to determine a gain change ratio;
• and
• b. a current total gain value multiplied by the gain change ratio to derive appropriate shutter control, automatic gain control and gain adjustment signals;
• wherein a user can manually adjust contrast, brightness and hue of a video format of frame images displayed on a display device through a graphical user interface, and further wherein a white balance of the video format of the frame images displayed on the display device is set by selecting a desired white object within a video window of the display device, and a processing circuit also scales contrasting color components and adjusts the control signals according to the desired white object, using a color adjustment matrix.