JPH09135390A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize excellent monitoring and high definition still image recording without increasing the drive frequency by applying block scanning and skip scanning to an image pickup element so as to monitor a dynamic image and selecting full picture element scanning in response to a recording command. SOLUTION: An object light is led to a CMD image pickup element 102 and a block scanning command is outputted to a drive section 103. A block scanning output of the element 102 is outputted continuously and given to a display signal processing section 106, in which the signal is converted into a standard television signal, then the image is monitored as a dynamic image. Thus, focus adjustment or the like is conducted for the operator in an excellent way. When skip scanning is requested, the number of picture elements to be read is similar to that of the block scanning, a frame rate is 38-frames/sec and the processing section 106 converts the signal into a standard television signal, then the image is monitored as a dynamic image. Thus, the operator conducts field angle matching or the like in an excellent way.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device capable of recording a high-definition still image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image with high definition, it is necessary to increase the driving frequency of the image pickup element in order to maintain the field rate as the number of pixels of the image pickup element increases. For example, the driving frequency of the image sensor used in HDTV is as high as 74.25 MHz. It is difficult to fabricate such a high-speed image pickup device, and the cost of a circuit that processes data at high speed becomes high. Therefore, in a conventional image pickup apparatus for recording a high-definition still image, the field rate is lowered and one field or one frame of image data is read and recorded at a relatively low speed.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional high definition still image pickup device. In this configuration example, a subject is imaged on the CCD image pickup device 1102 by the lens 1101 and photoelectrically converted. The CCD image pickup device 1102 is driven by the timing pulse generated by the drive unit 1103. The image data read from the CCD image pickup device 1102 is subjected to desired signal processing such as gain adjustment in the signal processing unit 1104, converted into digital data by the A / D converter, and output. The recording unit 1105 records the digital data as a still image, and includes a semiconductor memory and various media. Display signal processor
Reference numeral 1106 is for converting into a standard television signal and outputting it, and is composed of, for example, a display memory for input / output rate conversion, a synchronizing signal adding circuit, a D / A converter and the like. The system controller 1107 performs sequential control of the entire image pickup apparatus, and is composed of a microcomputer or the like. The trigger SW 1108 is a shutter button operated when the operator wants to capture a still image.

Next, the operation of the still image pickup device having such a configuration will be described. Operator triggers SW11
When 08 is pressed, the system controller 1107, which has detected the pressing of the trigger SW 1108, generates an exposure start and end timing signal for the drive unit 1103 and a recording start timing signal for the recording unit 1105. Upon receiving the exposure start and end timing signals, the drive unit 1103 generates timing pulses necessary for exposure and reading of the CCD image sensor 1102. As a result, the image signal read from the CCD image sensor 1102 is subjected to desired processing by the signal processing unit 1104 and recorded in the recording unit 1105.

At this time, the driving frequency of the CCD image pickup device 1102 is about 10 to 20 MHz for the above reason. If this CCD image sensor 1102 is a sensor with a high pixel count of horizontal 2048 × vertical 2048 pixels and the drive frequency is 10 MHz, it takes 0.4 seconds or more to read one screen (one frame) from this CCD image sensor 1102. This will be the case.

Prior to this recording operation, the operator monitors the output of the CCD image pickup device 1102 with a monitor connected to the output of the display signal processing unit 1106 in order to adjust the focus and the angle of view of the subject. In this monitoring operation, the driving unit 1103 continuously performs exposure and reading of the CCD image sensor 1102, and the read image data is processed by the signal processing unit.
Desired processing is performed in 1104 and input to the display signal processing unit 1106. Then, the display signal processing unit 1106 thins out the input data and inputs it to its own display memory. The image data stored in the display memory is read out at a desired speed so as to be a standard television signal, a synchronizing signal is added to the image data, which is converted into an analog signal and then output.

[0007]

By the way, in the still image pickup device having the above structure, the image data input to the display signal processing unit 1106 has a frame rate of about 2.5 frames / second as described above. Even if the standard TV signal to be output has a frame rate of 30 frames / second in NTSC, the same image is output from the display signal processing unit 1106 for 0.4 seconds until the contents of the display memory are rewritten. . Therefore, in such a still image pickup device, when the subject is monitored by the display device for adjusting the focal length and adjusting the angle of view, the frame rate at which the image is rewritten is slow and a response delay occurs, resulting in poor usability. There is a point.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional still image pickup device, and causes a response delay when the subject is monitored by the display device for adjusting the focal length and adjusting the angle of view. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device that records a high-definition still image that is easy to use without any problem.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is to provide an image sensor having a light receiving element region composed of a plurality of pixels, and to read a photocharge signal from the image sensor. In an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device driving unit, a first drive mode in which the driving unit is operated in a drive mode for utilizing a signal output read from the image pickup device other than recording and a signal read from the image pickup device The second drive mode for operating in the drive mode for recording is configured to be switched and output, and in the first drive mode, a part of the light receiving element region is read out to perform the second drive. In the mode, a light receiving element region that is at least partially different from the light receiving element region read in the first drive mode is read out.

With this configuration, when monitoring is performed in the first drive mode, the light receiving element region read during recording is different from the light receiving element region read during monitoring, and a region wider than the light receiving element region to be monitored is set. It becomes possible to record, and it is possible to always record the monitored area when recording a still image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup device comprising an image pickup device having a light receiving element region composed of a plurality of pixels, and an image pickup device driving means for reading a photocharge signal from the image pickup device. The drive means is operated in a drive mode for operating the signal output read from the image sensor in a mode other than recording and in a drive mode for recording a signal read from the image sensor in the second mode. The drive mode is switched to output, and the pixel signals of some of the pixels in the light receiving element region are read in the first drive mode, and the first drive mode is used in the second drive mode. The pixel signals of the number of pixels different from the number of pixels read in step 1 are read out.

With such a configuration, it is possible to increase the field rate during monitoring by performing monitoring in the first drive mode and reducing the number of pixels read during monitoring to less than the number of pixels read during recording. The dynamic resolution becomes high and good monitoring can be realized.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup element having a light receiving element region composed of a plurality of pixels; and an image pickup element driving means for reading out a photocharge signal from the image pickup element. The drive means is operated in a drive mode for operating the signal output read from the image sensor in a mode other than recording and in a drive mode for recording a signal read from the image sensor in the second mode. In the first drive mode, a part of the light receiving element region is variably set in position or size and is read out, and the second drive mode is selected. Then, the entire light receiving element area is read out.

With this configuration, the monitoring is performed in the first drive mode, and the partial reading of a partial area of the light receiving element area is performed, so that the reading at a higher field rate than that at the time of recording can be performed and the focus can be improved. Adjustment can be easily performed.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] Next, an embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the subject is a CMD (Charge Modulat) by the lens 101.
(Ion Device) An image is formed on the image pickup device 102, and the exposure time is controlled by the opening / closing operation of the shutter 109 to perform photoelectric conversion.
The CMD image pickup device 102 is driven by a timing pulse generated from a driving unit 103 to perform exposure and reading. The drive frequency of the CMD image sensor 102 is set to 10
If MHz and the total number of pixels are 2048 pixels × 2048 pixels, the read time of all pixels is about 0.4 seconds. CMD image sensor 102
The image data read from is subjected to desired signal processing such as gain adjustment in the signal processing unit 104, converted into digital data by the A / D converter, and output. Recording unit 105
Records the digital data as a still image, and is composed of a semiconductor memory and various media. The display signal processing unit 106 converts digital image data into a standard television signal and outputs the standard television signal, and is composed of, for example, a display memory for input / output rate conversion, a synchronizing signal adding circuit, a D / A converter, and the like. System controller 10
7 is for performing sequential control of the entire imaging device,
It is composed of a microcomputer and the like. Trigger SW
A switch 108 responds to a shutter button operated when the operator wants to capture a still image.

(Description of CMD Image Sensor) Next, the structure and operation of the CMD image sensor 102 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram showing the configuration of the CMD image sensor 102. This CMD image pickup device includes pixels 201 made up of CMDs arranged in a two-dimensional array and pixels 20 arranged in the column direction.
1, horizontal selection line 202 provided corresponding to 1, horizontal scanning circuit 203 for column selection, horizontal selection switch 204 provided corresponding to horizontal selection line 202, output commonly connected to horizontal selection switch 204 Signal line 205, the horizontal scanning circuit 203
Horizontal storage units 206 provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the vertical selection lines provided corresponding to the pixels 201 arranged in the row direction.
207, vertical scanning circuit 208 for row selection, vertical selection line 20
Vertical level mixing circuit 210 provided for 7
Vertical storage unit provided corresponding to the vertical scanning circuit 208
It consists of 209 and.

The CMD pixel 201 is one unit pixel for which photoelectric conversion is performed, and in this embodiment, the pixels 201 are arranged about 2000 pixels both horizontally and vertically as described above. The horizontal selection line 202 is a line which is connected to the source of the pixel 201 and which reads out the photoelectrically converted signal. The source of each pixel 201 is connected to the same horizontal selection line 202 for each column.
The horizontal selection switches 204 are switches for selecting the horizontal selection line 202, and the other ends of all the horizontal selection switches 204 are connected to the output signal 205. Horizontal selection switch
The control terminals for selectively controlling 204 are independently connected to the horizontal scanning circuit 203. The output signal 205 is the pixel 20
A signal line for reading out the photoelectrically converted signal from 1 in time series. The horizontal scanning circuit 203 is composed of a shift register that sequentially transfers a horizontal selection pulse (ΦHST) for selectively controlling the horizontal selection switch 204, and clears all stages of the shift register by an external control pulse (ΦHCL). Have a function. And this horizontal scanning circuit
203 is driven by horizontal drive pulses (ΦH1 to ΦH3),
Each output stage is independently connected to the control terminal of the horizontal selection switch 204. The horizontal storage unit 206 is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with each stage of the shift register and has a function of storing the position information of the transfer pulse of the shift register by an external control pulse and loading the stored information into the shift register. It is a storage unit.

The vertical selection line 207 is a selection line for setting the pixel 201 to a desired potential described later, and the gate of each pixel 201 is connected to the same vertical selection line 207 for each row. Therefore, the potential of each pixel 201 can be controlled row by row. Each of the vertical selection lines 207 is connected to the vertical level mix circuit 210. The vertical level mix circuit 210 is a circuit that switches the potential of the connected vertical selection line 207 at a desired timing. The switching-controlled potentials include a storage potential (VAC) for storing charges in the pixel 201, an overflow potential (VOF) for discharging excess charges in the pixel 201, and a read potential (VRD) for reading a signal from the pixel 201. , Pixel 20
There are four types of reset potential (VRS) that discharges 1 charge. In the vertical level mix circuit 210, Φ
VAR, ΦVAA, and ΦVAO are switching control pulses. When these pulses are applied, the reset potential (VRS) and the storage potential (VAC) are applied to all the pixels 201 regardless of the state of the transfer pulse of the vertical scanning circuit. ), And an overflow potential (VOF) is applied. Vertical scanning circuit 208
Is composed of a shift register that sequentially transfers a vertical selection pulse (ΦVST) for sequentially selecting the vertical selection line 207 to be read, and clears all shift register stages by an external control pulse (ΦVCL). Have a function. The vertical scanning circuit 208 is driven by vertical driving pulses (ΦV1 to ΦV3), and each output stage is independently connected to the control terminal of the vertical level mix circuit 210. The vertical storage unit 209 is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with each stage of the shift register, and has a function of storing the position information of the transfer pulse of the shift register by an external control pulse and loading the stored information into the shift register. It is a storage unit. A drain bias (not shown) is applied to the drain of each CMD pixel.

(Description of Operation During All-Pixel Scanning) Next, the operation during all-pixel scanning of the CMD image sensor 102 configured as described above will be described. When a video signal is output from the CMD image pickup device 102, the potential applied to each row of the CMD pixel 201 needs to be a pulse in which the above-mentioned four potentials are combined in time series. In the read selection row, the read potential (VRD) for reading a signal from a pixel is provided during a valid period of a video signal, and the reset potential (VRS) is provided for discharging a charge during a horizontal blanking period.
In the non-selected rows, it is necessary to have an accumulated potential (VAC) for accumulating charges during the effective period of the video signal and an overflow potential (VOF) for discharging excess charges during the horizontal blanking period. ing.

First, when a vertical selection pulse (ΦVST) is supplied to the bottom register of the shift registers constituting the vertical scanning circuit 208, the vertical level mix circuit 210 causes the vertical selection line 207 of the bottom row to read the potential (read) ( VRD). As a result, the gates of all the pixels 201 in the row direction become the read potential via the vertical selection line 207, and the read preparation is completed. At this time, the gate potentials of all the pixels 201 in the other rows not selected are set to the vertical level mix circuit.
A storage potential (VAC) is set by 210. This allows
The signals of the pixels 201 in the other rows are cut off.

Next, when the horizontal selection pulse (ΦHST) is supplied to the leftmost register of the shift register which constitutes the horizontal scanning circuit 203, the horizontal selection switch 204 connected to the output of this register becomes active. This causes the pixels 201 in the column connected to the leftmost horizontal select line 202.
Of the bottom pixel that is at the read potential (VRD)
The signal 201 is read out from the output signal line 205. The horizontal scanning circuit 203 has horizontal drive pulses (ΦH1 and ΦH2).
By sequentially transferring the horizontal selection pulse (ΦHST) to the right, the signals of the pixels 201 in the bottom row, which are at the read potential (VRD), are read out in order from the left.

During the horizontal blanking period after the reading of all the pixels 201 of the selected row is completed, the vertical level mix circuit 210 sets the gate potential of the pixels 201 of the selected row to the reset potential and is connected to the vertical selection line 207. The electric charge of all the pixels 201 in the row is discharged. At this timing, the overflow potential is applied to the gate of the pixel 201 of the non-selected row by the vertical level mix circuit 210, and the excess charge is discharged.

When the reading and resetting operation of the selected row is completed, the vertical scanning circuit 208 sequentially sends the vertical selection pulse (ΦVST) upward by the vertical driving pulse (ΦV1 and ΦV2) to repeat the above-mentioned horizontal scanning operation. As a result, the CMD image sensor 102 can sequentially read all the pixels 201 from the lower left pixel to the upper right pixel.

(Explanation of block scanning operation) Next, CMD
The operation of the image sensor 102 during block scanning will be described. This block scanning is realized by two modes. One is designation of a start position of block reading, and the other is reading. First, the designation of the start position of block reading will be described. Horizontal scanning circuit 203
A horizontal selection pulse (ΦHST) and a vertical selection pulse (ΦVST) are applied to the vertical scanning circuit 208 and the vertical scanning circuit 208, respectively, and they are transferred to arbitrary positions where block reading is to be started. Here, the state of the transfer pulse (horizontal selection pulse) of the horizontal scanning circuit 203 is stored in the horizontal storage unit 206 by the horizontal scanning start position storage pulse (ΦHTB). Also in the vertical scanning circuit 208, similarly, the state of the transfer pulse (vertical selection pulse) of the vertical scanning circuit 208 is stored in the vertical storage unit 209 by the vertical scanning start position storage pulse (ΦVTB).

Next, when reading out, instead of the horizontal selection pulse (ΦHST) at the time of all-pixel scanning described above,
By applying the horizontal scanning start position load pulse (ΦHLD), the start position information stored in the horizontal storage unit 206 is loaded into the horizontal scanning circuit 203, so that the reading can be performed from the storage position when the start position is designated. When the scanning is ended at an arbitrary position, the horizontal scanning circuit clear pulse (ΦHCL) is applied to clear all the stages of the horizontal scanning circuit, so that the scanning can be ended at that position. Also, the vertical scanning circuit 208 can be similarly scanned by using the vertical scanning start position load pulse (ΦVLD) and the vertical scanning circuit clear pulse (ΦVCL). This allows the CMD image sensor to
Block reading from any position to any position within the photoelectric conversion region can be realized.

(Explanation of Skip Scan Operation) Next, CMD
The operation of the image sensor 102 during skip scanning will be described. FIG. 3 shows the circuit configuration of the shift register of the horizontal scanning circuit 203 and the vertical scanning circuit 208. First, at the time of all-pixel scanning, in FIG. 3, the clock type inverters 311, 312, ... Connected to Φ1 and the clock type inverters 321, 322, ... Connected to Φ2 are alternately activated. Thus, the selection pulse input to ΦST is sequentially transferred. As a result, ΦSRn, ΦSR (n +
1), ΦSR (n + 2), ...

On the other hand, during the skip scanning, the shift register is driven by the driving pulse Φ instead of the driving pulses Φ1 and Φ2.
Drive with 1, Φ3. Since the clock type inverters 331, 332, ... To which Φ3 is applied are connected to the clock type inverters four stages ahead, the output is ΦS.
Rn, ΦSR (n + 4), ΦSR (n + 8), ... Are sequentially output.

By performing the above driving method for each scanning circuit of the horizontal scanning circuit 203 and the vertical scanning circuit 208, skip scanning can be realized. Also, by adding Φ4 and Φ5 to the shift register, a shift register that transitions to 8 stages ahead or 16 stages ahead can be easily realized. This allows CMD
The image sensor 102 can realize skip driving with an arbitrary number of pixels. That is, the thinning rate can be made variable.

Next, the drive section 103 in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the drive unit 103 in FIG. In order to perform each reading method of the CMD image sensor 102 described above,
The drive unit 103 is provided with a block scan drive signal generation unit 402, a skip scan drive signal generation unit 403, and an all-pixel scan drive signal generation unit 404 corresponding to each. And
In each drive signal generator, the horizontal and vertical drive pulses (ΦH1 to ΦH3, ΦV1 to ΦV3), the horizontal and vertical selection pulses (ΦHST, ΦVST), the horizontal and vertical scanning circuit clear pulses (ΦHCL, ΦVCL), and the horizontal And vertical scanning start position storage pulse (ΦHTB, ΦVT
B), horizontal and vertical scanning start position load pulse (ΦHL
D, ΦVLD) is created. These drive pulses are selected by the drive signal switch 401 according to the operation mode signal from the system controller 107, and the drive signal according to the operation mode is output.

Next, the system operation of the entire image pickup apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. First, the CPU in the system controller 107 when a block scan is requested
The operation flow of the above will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S11, the shutter 109
To the open command. This enables the CMD image sensor
The subject light is always guided to 102. Then, in step S12, a block scanning command is output to the drive unit 103. The block scan position and window size are
It can be freely set by an instruction from the system controller 107, and at the same time, the system controller 107 transmits the position and window size information to the block scan drive signal generator 402 in the driver 103. Receiving this command, the drive unit 103 switches so that the drive signal switching circuit 401 1 selectively outputs the block scanning drive signal. Next, in step S13, the CPU detects the input of the trigger SW108. The block scanning state is continued until the trigger SW input is detected, and when the trigger SW 108 input is detected, the recording operation is started (step S14).

In this operation, since the shutter 109 is held in the open state, the block scan output of the CMD image sensor 102 is continuously output and input to the display signal processing unit 106. For example, if block scanning is performed on the 512 × 512 pixel portion in the central portion, the read time in this scanning is the same drive frequency (10 MHz) as in all pixel scanning.
Then, the frame rate is about 26 ms and about 38 frames / sec. When this is converted into a standard television signal by the display signal processing unit 106, it can be monitored as a moving image. This allows the operator to satisfactorily perform focus adjustment and the like.

Next, the operation flow when the skip scanning is requested is shown in the flowchart of steps S21 to S24 in FIG. At this time, if skip scanning is performed to read one pixel out of four pixels in each of the horizontal and vertical directions, the number of pixels to be read is 51 as in the block scanning described above.
It has 2 × 512 pixels. This scanning also results in a frame rate of about 38 frames / sec. If this is converted into a standard television signal by the display signal processing unit 106, it can be monitored as a moving image. This allows the operator to favorably adjust the angle of view.

Next, the recording operation will be described. When the CPU in the system controller 107 detects that the trigger SW 108 is pressed during the block scanning shown in FIG. 5 or the skip scanning shown in FIG. 6, the recording operation is started. The flow of the recording operation is shown in the flowchart of FIG. When the pressing of the trigger SW108 is detected, step S
At 31, a command to close the shutter 109 is output. After that, in step S32, a command for changing the operation mode to all-pixel scanning is output to the driving unit 103, and the driving of the CMD image sensor 102 is switched from block and skip scanning driving to all-pixel scanning driving. Next, in step S33, the unnecessary charges of all pixels are discharged with the shutter 109 closed. As described above, the charge discharge (reset operation) of the CMD image sensor 102 is simultaneously performed on the read horizontal line during the horizontal blanking period after the read horizontal line. Therefore, unnecessary charges can be discharged by performing a read operation for one screen (one frame) in the light-shielded state. After discharging unnecessary charges, step S
At 34, the exposure operation is controlled. In the exposure operation, the horizontal and vertical scanning drive of the CMD image sensor 102 is stopped, the read and reset operations are stopped, and all pixels are held at the accumulated potential state. Next, the shutter 109 is opened and closed after a predetermined exposure time. In step S35, the CPU causes the recording unit 105 to close.
A recording start command is output to the drive unit 103, and the drive unit 103 is instructed to restart the drive of the CMD image pickup device 102 after the light shielding is completed. As a result, all pixel signals read by the CMD image sensor 102 are processed by the signal processing unit 104 as desired and then recorded in the recording unit 105.

As described above, in the high-definition image pickup apparatus using the multi-pixel image pickup element according to the first embodiment, the drive frequency of the image pickup element is increased by performing block scanning or skip scanning on the image pickup element. It is possible to achieve both good monitoring and high-definition still image recording without any problem. Further, by using a shutter, proper exposure for still image shooting can be performed, and by leaving the shutter open during monitoring, good monitoring can be performed.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment, X is used as the image pickup device.
Although the one using the Y-address type CMD image pickup device has been described, the image pickup device is not limited to this, and can be applied to a CCD image pickup device and the like.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a focal plane type shutter is used as the shutter 109 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. The focal plane shutter is composed of two members that block light, a front curtain and a rear curtain, and these can be independently opened and closed to enable exposure for a predetermined time. FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the operation when the focal plane shutter is used in a general camera or the like. In this figure, the high level of the charts of the leading and trailing curtains indicates that the curtains are closed and in a light-shielded state, which means that low is open. During the period t _{00 to} t ₀₁ until the trigger SW 108 is input, the exposure operation maintains the predetermined standby state (the front curtain is closed and the rear curtain is open) for both the front and rear curtains. CPU at t ₀₁
When the input of the trigger SW 108 is detected by, the front curtain is opened at t ₀₂ . When the predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the trailing curtain is shielded at t ₀₃ , and the exposure ends. After that, both the front curtain and the rear curtain are returned to the standby state again for the next exposure.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention using the focal plane type shutter. period t ₁₀ ~t ₁₁ is in a state of performing a block or skip scanning.
At this time, as shown in the first embodiment, it is necessary that the shutter is open and the subject is always incident on the CMD image sensor, and both the front curtain and the rear curtain keep the open state. When the input of the trigger SW is detected at t ₁₁ , the front curtain is shielded at t ₁₂ and the standby state is set. After completion of the standby state, the front curtain is opened at t ₁₄ , and after a predetermined exposure time, t
_The rear curtain is shielded at ₁₅ .

As a result, when the CMD image pickup device 102 performs block or skip scanning, the shutter holds the open state, and at the same time good monitoring performance can be obtained.
With the smallest time lag after responding to the recording start command,
The exposure can start.

[Third Embodiment] In the first embodiment, unnecessary charges are discharged in the recording operation for each line (line) in the horizontal blanking period after the reading of each line is completed. It is a reset method. Since this reset operation is performed for all lines in order to discharge the unnecessary charges of all pixels, a waiting time is required until the exposure starts. Next, a third embodiment will be described in which the time for discharging the unnecessary charges can be shortened. Vertical level mix circuit in the CMD image sensor shown in FIG.
210 is a collective reset pulse (ΦVA from the drive unit 103).
R), all the vertical selection lines 207 can be set to the reset potential regardless of the selection state of the vertical scanning circuit 208, and unnecessary charges can be discharged from all the pixels 201 at the same time.

Therefore, during the recording operation, the drive unit 103 outputs a collective reset pulse (ΦVAR) to the CMD image pickup device 102 based on the unnecessary charge discharge command from the system controller 107 after the shutter is shielded. Thereby, C
The MD image pickup device 102 can immediately complete the discharge preparation of the unnecessary charges of all the pixels 201 and complete the exposure preparation. In the second embodiment, between t ₁₂ ~t ₁₄ in FIG. 9, it is possible to less exposure of the shutter time lag in performing this batch reset operation.

In the present embodiment, the unnecessary charge discharging method is switched to the line reset method at the time of block and skip scanning, and switched to the batch reset method at the time of scanning all pixels in response to a recording instruction. This trigger S
It is possible to realize a more excellent high-definition still image pickup device with a small shutter time lag from the pressing of W108 to the start of exposure.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, an electronic shutter is used during the block scanning and the skip scanning in the first embodiment so that the exposure control during each scanning can be performed well. In the first embodiment, the shutter 109 is open during block scanning and skip scanning. The charge discharge of the CMD image sensor 102 is performed for the row read immediately before in the horizontal blanking period after the signal of one row in which the vertical selection line 207 is selected is read. Therefore, each pixel performs photoelectric conversion during the period of one frame in which this row is selected again after discharging the charges. This is the exposure time (shutter speed) during block scanning and skip scanning. The present embodiment is intended to make this exposure time variable. This purpose is achieved by driving as follows. That is, as in the first embodiment, the charge discharging operation at the time of block scanning and skip scanning is not performed at the row for which reading has been completed at the reset potential, but at the row to be read from now on at the reset potential. Can change the exposure time. Then, the exposure time can be made variable by making the interval between the row for reading out and discharging the charges variable.

As described above, since the exposure time can be varied during the block scan and the skip scan, a good image output can be obtained even when the brightness of the subject is very bright, and a further excellent monitoring performance can be realized.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the display method and the circuit configuration on the display device in the first embodiment are
In the block scan drive mode and the skip scan drive mode, the image sensor is driven by the interlace scan system, and the non-interlace scan system is switched to the all-pixel scan drive mode in response to a recording start command from the CPU. After the switching, the image is recorded in the recording unit 105.

The system configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and in each drive signal generating section, the detailed description of the drive section 103 shown in FIG. 4 will be used. The driving method will be described. The block scan drive signal generator 402 and the skip scan drive signal generator 403 are
The interlaced scanning method in which the second scanning fills the space between the trajectories of the first scanning as shown in 10
It is configured to generate a drive signal for driving the MD image sensor 102. In order to drive the CMD image sensor 102 by the interlaced scanning method, the vertical scan circuit drive clock group of the vertical scan circuit of the CMD image sensor is applied twice in the horizontal blanking period to select the vertical selection line group. This can be realized by transferring the selection pulse for two stages and switching this procedure for each image field.

Further, the all-pixel scanning drive signal generator 404 is
As shown in FIG. 11, a non-interlaced scanning method of sequentially scanning all pixels is used to generate a drive signal for driving the CMD image sensor 102. The drive of the CMD image pickup device by the non-interlaced scanning method is the first
As described in the above embodiment, it can be realized by transferring the vertical selection pulse of the vertical scanning circuit of the CMD image pickup device row by row. The drive signal generated by each drive signal generating section is selected by the drive signal switching circuit 401 according to the operation mode signal from the system controller 107, and the drive signal according to the operation mode is output.

Next, the operation flow of the fifth embodiment will be described.
This will be described using the flowcharts for explaining the operation of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. The operation flow of the CPU in the system controller 107 when a block scan is requested is the same as the operation flow shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5. In step S12 of this flowchart, the CMD image sensor 102 is block-scan driven by the interlaced scan method. To be done. The operation flow at the time of the skip scanning request is the same as the operation flow shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, and in step S22 of this flowchart, the CMD image sensor 102 is skip-scan driven by the interlaced scanning method. The operation flow during the recording operation is the same as the operation flow shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, and in step S32 of this flowchart,
The CMD image sensor 102 is driven to scan all pixels by the non-interlaced scanning method, and in step S35, the output of the CMD image sensor 102 is recorded in the recording unit 105.

According to the fifth embodiment, in the block scan drive mode and the skip scan drive mode, an interlaced scan display device (for example, NTSC system) can be easily used without using a scan conversion circuit or the like in the signal processing circuit system. Monitor) and the dynamic resolution can be increased without increasing the drive frequency of the CMD image sensor, and a high-definition still image can be recorded in the all-pixel scanning drive mode.

[Sixth Embodiment] Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. This embodiment further improves the method of displaying on the display device according to the fifth embodiment. Even in the block scan drive mode and the skip scan drive mode, C
This makes it possible to drive the MD image pickup device.
The system configuration of this embodiment is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a display switching SW unit 510 for instructing the display device desired by the operator is added to the system configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are indicated by reference numerals in their 500s. FIG. 13 is a detailed configuration diagram of the drive unit 503 in the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 12, and the drive system of each drive signal generation unit will be described next. Each drive signal generation unit basically performs the same function as that of the fifth embodiment, but the block scan drive signal generation unit 602 and the skip scan drive signal generation unit 603 use the non-interlaced scanning in addition to the interlaced scanning method. It is also possible to generate a drive pulse for driving the CMD image sensor 502 by the method,
The operation mode signal from the system controller 507 enables switching between the interlaced scanning method and the non-interlaced scanning method. In addition, the fifth
Similar to the embodiment of the present invention, the drive signal generated by each drive signal generator is selected by the drive signal switching circuit 601 by the operation mode signal from the system controller 507, and the drive signal corresponding to the operation mode is output. It has become so.

Next, the operation flow of the sixth embodiment having such a configuration will be described. The operation flow of the CPU in the system controller 507 when a block scan is requested is the same as the operation flow of the fifth embodiment, and in step S12 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
The MD image pickup device 502 is block-scan driven by an interlaced scanning method or a non-interlaced scanning method. Further, the operation flow at the time of the skip scanning request is the same as the operation flow of the first embodiment, and in step S22 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the CMD image sensor 502 uses the interlaced scanning method or the non-interlaced scanning method. It is driven by skip scanning. The operation flow during the recording operation is the same as the operation flow of the first embodiment. In step S32 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the CMD image sensor 502 is driven to scan all pixels by the non-interlaced scanning method. , In step S35, CMD
The output of the image sensor 502 is recorded in the recording unit 505.

[Seventh Embodiment] Next, a seventh embodiment will be described. This embodiment is to improve the circuit configuration in the first embodiment. In each drive mode, the drive frequency is made common to one type, the image sensor and the entire system are driven, and a recording start command is issued. According to the block scan drive mode or the skip scan drive mode,
After switching to the all-pixel scanning drive mode, the image is recorded in the recording section.

The system configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. A detailed description of the drive unit of the present embodiment in this system configuration will be given based on FIG. Drive signal generators 702, 703, 704
As shown in FIG. 14, the drive frequencies of the drive modes are N times or 1 / N times (N times) based on the common oscillator 705.
Is a natural number), and the drive signal generated by each drive signal generator is selected by the drive signal switching circuit 701 according to the operation mode signal from the system controller. A drive signal according to the operation mode is output.

The operation flow of the drive unit constructed as described above is the same as that of the first embodiment, but according to the present embodiment, one oscillator is used and a plurality of drive modes are generated based on the oscillator. It is possible to drive a plurality of drive signal generators with a reduced number of parts by creating a clock for use. Further, by making the drive frequency the same in the block scan drive mode and the skip scan drive mode, the system configuration can be further simplified.

[Eighth Embodiment] Next, an eighth embodiment will be described. This embodiment is to further improve the circuit configuration of the first embodiment. In the block scan drive mode or the skip scan drive mode, the image pickup device and the image pickup device are driven at a drive frequency matched with a standard television signal (NTSC system). The entire system is driven, and after the block scan drive mode or the skip scan drive mode is switched to the all-pixel scan drive mode in response to a recording start command, an image is recorded in the recording unit.

The system configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, except that the block scan drive signal generation section and the skip scan drive signal generation section in the drive section of this system configuration are The drive frequency of the generated drive signal will be described with reference to FIG. N for one frame
Consider a TSC image as shown in FIG. In FIG. 15, the shaded area indicates the horizontal blanking area (HBLK) and the vertical blanking area (VBLK), and the actual effective pixel area is the remaining white square area. And each value is as follows.

[0056] effective pixel area aspect ratio; height: width = V: H = 3: 4 vertical total number of pixels; N _FV = 525 (present) vertical effective pixel count; N _V = 485 (present) frame frequency; F = 29.97 (Hz) field _{frequency; f v = 2 · F =} 59.94 (Hz) line _{frequency; f h = N FV · F} = 15734.25 (Hz) horizontal blanking _{period; T hBlk = 10.9 (μs)} ± 0.2 (μs) horizontal Effective period ； T _h = 1 / f _h −T _hBlk ≈52.656 (μs)

[0057] Here, the aspect ratio of the pixels of the imaging device, 1: 1, the horizontal effective pixel _{count; N h = N V × H} / V = 646.66 ( present), and the driving frequency M _clk of the imaging device ( Hz) is M _clk = N _h / T _h ( _{H z} ) = (N _FV · F · N _h ) / (1−N _FV · F · T _hBlk ) ( _{H z} ) _≈12.28 ( _{MH z} ), which is about 12.28 ( _{MH z} ). Each drive signal is generated based on the drive frequency of MHz). The drive signal generated by each drive signal generator is selected by the drive signal switching circuit according to the operation mode signal from the system controller, and the drive signal corresponding to the operation mode is output.

The operation flow of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. According to this embodiment, approximately 1
By driving an image sensor with a pixel aspect ratio of 1: 1 at a frequency of 2.28 MHz, an image that can be displayed with the correct aspect ratio can be obtained on a display device compatible with the NTSC system. If there is no special memory or special control circuit therefor, the signal processing means in the subsequent stage can also perform processing based on this frequency, and if the display processing means converts it to an NTSC video signal and outputs it, it corresponds to the NTSC system. The captured image can be displayed on the display device in the correct aspect ratio and can be monitored as a moving image. Further, if the drive frequency of the image pickup device is set to a frequency corresponding to a standard television signal (PAL, HDTV, etc.) based on the conversion formula,
The captured image can be displayed in a correct aspect ratio on a display device that supports standard television signals (PAL, HDTV, etc.), and can be monitored as a moving image.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the aspects of the present invention can be summarized as follows. (1) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels, and an image sensor driving unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the driving unit is read from the image sensor. To be able to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from the image sensor is operated. In the first driving mode, a part of the light receiving element region is read out and the second
In the driving mode, the image pickup device is configured to read a light receiving element region which is at least partially different from the light receiving element region read in the first driving mode. With this configuration, when monitoring is performed in the first drive mode, the light receiving element region read during recording is different from the light receiving element region read during monitoring, and an area wider than the light receiving element region to be monitored is recorded. This makes it possible to record the monitored area without fail when recording a still image. (2) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels, and an image sensor driving unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the driving unit is read from the image sensor. To be able to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from the image sensor is operated. In addition to the above, the number of pixels different from the number of pixels read in the first drive mode is read in the first drive mode, and the pixel signals of some pixels in the light receiving element region are read in the first drive mode. An image pickup device, which is configured to read the pixel signal of. With such a configuration, monitoring is performed in the first drive mode, and the number of pixels read during monitoring is smaller than the number of pixels read during recording, whereby the field rate during monitoring can be increased and the dynamic resolution can be improved. Higher and better monitoring can be realized. (3) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels, and an image sensor driving unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the driving unit is read from the image sensor. To be able to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from the image sensor is operated. In addition to the above configuration, in the first drive mode, a part of the light receiving element region is read by variably setting the position or size, and in the second drive mode, the entire region of the light receiving element region is read. An imaging device having the above structure. With this configuration, monitoring is performed in the first drive mode, and partial reading of a partial area of the light-receiving element area is performed, which enables reading at a higher field rate than during recording and facilitates focus adjustment. Can be done. (4) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels and an image sensor driving unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the driving unit is read from the image sensor. A configuration that can output by switching between a first drive mode in which a signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from an image sensor is operated in a recording mode In addition, in the first drive mode, pixels in the light receiving element region are thinned out and read out,
In the driving mode, the image pickup device is configured to read all pixels in the light receiving element region. With such a configuration, it is possible to increase the field rate compared to during recording by performing monitoring in the first drive mode and performing thinning-out reading, and to obtain a good monitor image with high dynamic resolution during framing. You can (5) In the thinning-out reading in the first drive mode, the thinning-out rate can be variably set, and the imaging device according to the above (4). By configuring so that the thinning rate can be variably set in this way,
The field rate can be increased by increasing the thinning rate, and thus can be shared as a high-speed camera. (6) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels and an image sensor driving unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the driving unit is read from the image sensor. To be able to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from the image sensor is operated. In the first driving mode, a part of the pixels in the light receiving element region is read out, and
In the driving mode, the image pickup device is configured to read all the pixels in the light receiving element region. With this configuration, when monitoring is performed in the first drive mode, the number of pixels read during monitoring is smaller than that during recording, so that it is possible to obtain a monitor image with a high field rate and high dynamic resolution. Good monitoring can be done. (7) Imaging provided with an image sensor having a light receiving element region composed of a plurality of pixels, a shutter for appropriately entering light from a subject, and an image sensor driving unit for reading out a photocharge signal from the image sensor In the apparatus, the drive means is operated in a first drive mode for operating the signal output read from the image sensor in a mode other than recording and a drive mode for recording the signal read from the image sensor. The second drive mode is configured to be switched and output is possible. In the first drive mode, the shutter is opened to read the photocharge signal of the light receiving element region, and in the second drive mode, the shutter is closed. The image pickup device is configured to read out the photocharge signal of the light receiving element region. With this configuration, when monitoring is performed in the first drive mode, it is possible to obtain an output with high dynamic resolution by reading with a high field rate during monitoring, and to obtain a still image with a desired exposure time during recording. It will be possible. (8) A focal plane shutter is used as the shutter, and when the first drive mode is switched to the second drive mode for a recording operation, the charge for starting the shutter operation of the front curtain of the focal plane shutter. The imaging device according to (7) above, which is configured to perform. Thereby, good monitoring can be obtained, and the exposure of the recorded image can be started with the smallest time lag after the recording start command is responded. (9) In an image pickup device comprising an image pickup device having a light receiving element region made up of a plurality of pixels, and an image pickup device driving means capable of variably setting a photocharge signal accumulation time of the image pickup device and for reading out after accumulation. A second driving mode in which the driving means is operated in a driving mode for using the signal output read from the image sensor other than recording, and a second driving mode for recording the signal read from the image sensor. And a part of the light receiving element region is read in the first drive mode, and the light received in the first drive mode is read in the second drive mode. An image pickup apparatus, which is configured to read out a light receiving element region which is at least partially different from the element region. As a result, when monitoring is performed in the first drive mode, it is possible to adjust the exposure during monitoring, and good monitoring can be performed. (10) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels, and an image sensor driving unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the driving unit is read from the image sensor. To be able to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from the image sensor is operated. In addition to the above, in the first drive mode, a part of the light receiving element region is read by interlaced scanning, and in the second drive mode, the light receiving element region read by non-interlaced scanning in the first driving mode is An image pickup device characterized in that at least a part thereof is configured to read different light receiving element regions. As a result, when monitoring in the first drive mode,
Interlaced scanning is performed during monitoring, which improves dynamic resolution and enables good monitoring. (11) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels, and an image sensor driving unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the driving unit is read from the image sensor. To be able to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from the image sensor is operated. In the first driving mode, a part of the light receiving element region is read by non-interlaced scanning, and in the second driving mode, the light receiving element region is read by non-interlaced scanning in the first driving mode. Is configured so that at least a part of different light receiving element regions is read out.
In this way, when the monitoring is performed in the first drive mode by reading by non-interlaced scanning in the first drive mode, it is possible to support any type of monitor, such as a personal computer or the like, at the time of monitoring. Is possible. (12) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels, and an image sensor driving unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the driving unit is read from the image sensor. To be able to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from the image sensor is operated. In the first driving mode, a part of the light receiving element region is read out and the second
In this drive mode, at least a part of the light receiving element region different from the light receiving element region read in the first driving mode is read out, and the driving frequency in the first driving mode and the driving frequency in the second driving mode are read. An imaging device, wherein the ratio is configured to be an integral multiple or an integral fraction. By configuring the ratio of the drive frequency in the first drive mode and the drive frequency in the second drive mode to be an integral multiple or an integer fraction, the clocks for the first and second drive modes are formed. Only one oscillator is required,
The system configuration can be further simplified. (13) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels, and an image sensor drive unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the drive unit is read from the image sensor. To be able to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from the image sensor is operated. In the first driving mode, a part of the light receiving element region is read out and the second
In this drive mode, at least a part of the light receiving element region different from the light receiving element region read in the first driving mode is read out, and the drive frequency in the first driving mode is adjusted to the standard television signal. An imaging device characterized by being set to. In this way, by setting the drive frequency in the first drive mode to the drive frequency that matches the standard television signal, it is possible to use the existing system as a monitor device when monitoring in the first drive mode. Becomes (14) An XY address type image pickup device is used as the image pickup device, and unnecessary charges are discharged line by line in the first drive mode, and unnecessary charges are discharged prior to reading for recording in the second drive mode. Is performed collectively for all pixels after the shutter is closed, the driving is stopped while the shutter is open, the shutter is closed after the exposure period has elapsed, and then the reading is performed in the second drive mode. 7) The image pickup device described above. As a result, when monitoring is performed in the first drive mode, good monitoring with high dynamic resolution can be performed during monitoring, and recording with a small shutter time lag can be performed during recording. (15) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels, and an image sensor driving unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the driving unit is read from the image sensor. To be able to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from the image sensor is operated. In addition to the above, the pixel signals of some of the pixels in the light receiving element region are read in the first drive mode, and the number of pixels different from the number of pixels read in the first drive mode in the second drive mode. The pixel signal is read out, and the first drive mode or the second drive mode is a partial read mode for reading out a continuous partial area in the light receiving element area. Image pickup device, which is configured to drive the partial read mode and the thinned read mode at the same drive frequency. . In this way, by making the drive frequencies of the partial read mode and the thinning read mode the same, the system configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. (16) In an imaging device including an image sensor having a light receiving element region including a plurality of pixels, and an image sensor driving unit for reading a photocharge signal from the image sensor, the driving unit is read from the image sensor. To be able to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which a signal read from the image sensor is operated. In addition to the above, the pixel signals of a part of the light receiving element region are read in the first drive mode, and the pixels of a region different from the region read in the first drive mode in the second drive mode. A signal is read out, and the first drive mode or the second drive mode reads out a partial continuous region in the light receiving element region. When, and a thinning-out reading mode for reading a region of said light receiving element discretely imaging apparatus characterized by being configured to drive and the partial reading mode and the thinning readout mode in the same driving frequency. In this way, by making the drive frequencies of the partial read mode and the thinning read mode the same, the system configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. (17) In the first drive mode, the image pickup apparatus according to (1), which is configured so as to switch between reading by interlaced scanning and reading by non-interlaced scanning. As a result, when performing monitoring in the first drive mode, an interlaced television monitor or a non-interlaced monitor for PC can be used as a monitor device to be connected, so that an imaging device that is easy for the user to use can be provided. it can. (18) The image pickup device according to (8), wherein charging of the front curtain is started in response to an operation associated with the shutter relays. As a result, the shutter time lag can be minimized. (19) With the timing of recording start, the first
The imaging device according to any one of (1) to (18) above, which is configured so as to switch between the drive mode and the second drive mode. With this configuration, in the image pickup apparatus described in (1) and (2), the drive mode is automatically set at the recording start timing by the shutter trigger even if the user does not perform the drive mode switching operation. It is possible to provide an image pickup apparatus that is easy to use. Also (3)
In the image pickup apparatus described, when the user starts recording by shutter trigger input in the state where the partial image is moving image monitored by partial reading, the mode automatically switches to all-pixel reading, thus reducing the shutter time lag. be able to. Further, in the image pickup apparatus described in (4) and (5), when the user starts recording by a shutter trigger in a state in which the entire angle of view is monitored by moving images by thinning-out reading, all-pixel reading is automatically switched. Therefore, the time lag of the shutter can be reduced. Also (6)
In the image pickup apparatus described above, when the user starts recording by the shutter trigger while the moving image is being monitored by partial reading or the entire angle of view is being monitored by thinning reading, the entire image is automatically recorded. Since the mode is switched to pixel reading, the time lag of the shutter can be reduced. Further, in the image pickup apparatus described in (7) and (8), since the shutter operation is automatically switched in response to the recording start by the shutter trigger input, it is possible to realize an image pickup apparatus which is easy to use and has a small shutter time lag. it can. Further, in the image pickup device described in (9), the user can perform a drive mode switching operation automatically, and the image pickup device is automatically changed over at a recording start timing by a shutter trigger input, so that an image pickup device with good usability is provided. can do. Further, in the imaging device according to (10), from the state of monitoring with high dynamic resolution of interlaced scanning during monitoring, the timing of recording start by shutter trigger input
Since the mode is automatically switched to the non-interlaced scanning, it is possible to realize a convenient imaging device. Further, in the image pickup apparatus described in (11) and (12), even if the user does not specially perform the drive mode switching operation, the image is automatically switched at the recording start timing by the shutter trigger, so that the image pickup is easy to use. A device can be provided. Further, in the image pickup device described in (13), in a state of being monitored by a standard television signal at the time of monitoring, a reading method suitable for recording is automatically switched by recording start by a shutter trigger input, thereby realizing a user-friendly image pickup device can do. Further, in the image pickup device according to (14), by automatically switching between the first drive mode and the second drive mode, an appropriate exposure can be obtained during monitoring and during recording, and a user-friendly image pickup device. Can be realized. Further, in the imaging device described in (15) and (16),
When the user starts recording with the shutter trigger in the state where a partial image is being monitored as a moving image while the thinning reading is being performed as a moving image monitor, the mode automatically switches to all-pixel reading. The time lag of the shutter can be reduced. See also (17)
In the described image pickup apparatus, the drive mode is automatically switched with the timing of recording start by the shutter trigger even if the user does not specifically perform the drive mode switching operation, so that an image pickup apparatus with good usability is provided. You can In the image pickup apparatus described in (18), since the shutter operation is automatically switched in response to the recording start by the shutter trigger input, it is possible to realize an image pickup apparatus which is easy to use and has a small shutter time lag.

[0060]

As described in detail based on the above embodiments, according to the present invention, the image sensor is block-scanned and skip-scanned to monitor a moving image, and is switched to all-pixel scanning in response to a recording instruction. As a result, good monitoring and high-definition still image recording can be realized without increasing the drive frequency. In addition, a shutter is provided, the open state is maintained during block scanning and skip scanning of the image sensor, and the exposure of the image sensor is controlled by the shutter in response to a recording instruction, so that good monitoring and proper exposure for still image shooting can be achieved. You can do it. Further, by using a focal plane type shutter as this shutter and closing the front curtain in response to the recording instruction from the open state at the time of monitoring, the recording operation can be performed with the minimum time lag. Further, the unnecessary charges of the image pickup device at the time of monitoring are discharged by the line reset method, and the batch reset is performed by the recording instruction, so that the recording operation can be performed with a further shorter time lag. Further, by using the electronic shutter at the time of monitoring, it is possible to realize further excellent monitoring performance.

Further, by driving the image sensor in interlaced scanning during monitoring and non-interlaced scanning during recording, it is possible to realize superior monitoring performance in a general interlaced scanning type monitor.
In addition, high-definition still image recording can be realized. Furthermore, by making it possible to switch the driving of the image sensor during monitoring between interlaced scanning and non-interlaced scanning, it is possible to realize better monitoring performance. Further, the system can be simplified by configuring one oscillator to support a plurality of drive modes. Furthermore, by adjusting the drive frequency of the image pickup device to the standard television signal, it is possible to realize better monitoring performance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a CMD in the first embodiment shown in FIG.
It is a block block diagram which shows the structural example of an image sensor.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a shift register which constitutes a horizontal scanning circuit and a vertical scanning circuit in the CMD image pickup device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a drive unit in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow when block scanning is requested in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation flow when skip scanning is requested in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation flow when a recording operation is requested in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing an operation mode when a focal plane type shutter is used in a general camera or the like.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing an operation mode when a focal plane type shutter is used in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a scanning mode of an interlaced scanning system.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a scanning mode of a non-interlaced scanning system.

FIG. 12 is a block configuration diagram showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a driving unit in the sixth embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a drive unit in a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 15] Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating an image of an NTSC system for one frame.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a conventional high-definition still image pickup device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101,501 Lens 102,502 CMD Image sensor 103,503 Drive unit 104,504 Signal processing unit 105,505 Recording unit 106,506 Display signal processing unit 107,507 System controller 108,508 Trigger SW 201 Pixel 202 Horizontal selection line 203 Horizontal scanning circuit 204 Horizontal selection switch 205 Output signal line 206 Horizontal storage unit 207 Vertical selection line 208 Vertical scanning circuit 209 Vertical storage unit 210 Vertical level mixing circuit 311,312, ... Clock type inverter 321,322, ... Clock type inverter 331,332, ... Clock type inverter 401,601,701 Drive signal switching circuit 402,602,702 Block scan drive signal Generator 403,603,703 Skip scan drive signal generator 404,604,704 All pixel scan drive signal generator 509 Shutter 510 Display switching SW 705 Oscillator

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup device having a light receiving element region made up of a plurality of pixels; and an image pickup device driving means for reading out a photocharge signal from the image pickup device. It is possible to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the read signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which the signal read from the image sensor is operated in the drive mode. And a part of the light receiving element region is read in the first drive mode, and at least a part is different from the light receiving element region read in the first drive mode in the second drive mode. An image pickup device, which is configured to read out a light receiving element region. 2. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup device having a light receiving element region made up of a plurality of pixels; and an image pickup device driving means for reading out a photocharge signal from the image pickup device. It is possible to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the read signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which the signal read from the image sensor is operated in the drive mode. With the above configuration, the pixel signals of some pixels in the light receiving element region are read in the first drive mode, and the number of pixels read in the first drive mode is different from the second drive mode. An image pickup device, which is configured to read out pixel signals of the number of pixels. 3. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup device having a light receiving element region made up of a plurality of pixels; and an image pickup device driving means for reading out a photocharge signal from the image pickup device. It is possible to output by switching between a first drive mode in which the read signal output is operated in a drive mode for use other than recording and a second drive mode in which the signal read from the image sensor is operated in the drive mode. In the first drive mode, a part of the light receiving element region is read by variably setting the position or size, and in the second drive mode, the entire light receiving element region is read. An image pickup apparatus, which is configured to read out.