JPH09261526A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device with which the image without camera shake can be provided through a simple means without lowering the picture quality of a still picture by providing a photographic optical system, control means, storage means and image compositing means. SOLUTION: In order to provide the image of optimum exposure, based on the focal distance information, diaphragm information and lightness information of a photographic optical means 1, a storage control means 4 sets the storage time of an image pickup means 2 optimum for photographing images a plurality of times without shake. This image pickup means 2 performs photographing a plurality of times within the set storage time, records and holds the images in a memory means 5. A shake detecting means 6 detects the shake of a plurality of images recorded and held in the memory means 5. Besides, a shake correcting means 7 shifts the positions of a plurality of images corresponding to the shake information of the shake detecting means 6, overlaped these images and composites them into optimum image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus for taking a still image, for example, a blur correction technology for this apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among the image pickup apparatus for taking a still picture, particularly in an electronic camera, since an image can be recorded electrically, various methods for preventing blurring have been proposed, which are different from silver halide photography. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2-172366 discloses an electronic still camera of a system in which a plurality of images are continuously photographed and only images with less blur are recorded.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-268523 discloses a video camera of a system in which a storage time of an image pickup device is set according to a blur amount and a lack of light amount is corrected by adjusting a gain.

[0004]

However, even when a plurality of images are consecutively taken by the electronic still camera of the system of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-172366, if the accumulation time is long or the focal length is long. The blur does not always disappear, and a case may occur in which only images that have missed the photo opportunity are recorded.

Further, in the video camera of the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-268523, even if an attempt is made to correct the gain by setting the accumulation time according to the blur, the original S / N is bad, so the correction is made. There was also a problem that the image became even worse.

As described above, there has been a problem that the above-mentioned problems must be overcome, and an image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining a high quality image has been desired. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining an image without blurring by a simple means without degrading the image quality of a still image.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, the image pickup apparatus of the present invention continuously shoots a plurality of times with substantially no blurring accumulation time, and the blurring occurs for each shooting. An image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining an image with proper exposure without blurring by correcting and "superimposing".
More specifically, under low-light conditions, continuous shooting is performed with an exposure time that does not cause camera shake, the misalignment between a plurality of images is corrected, and then an underexposed image group is combined. To achieve this,
The image pickup device of the present invention is configured as follows.

[1] Based on the photographing optical system for guiding a subject image onto the accumulation type image sensor and the subject brightness information and the focal length information of the photographing optical system, the blur of the accumulation type image sensor can be ignored at the time of photographing. Control means for setting the accumulation time and the number of continuous photographing for obtaining an appropriate exposure amount by photographing for this accumulation time, storage means for storing the obtained plurality of image data, and storage means for storing in the storage means. And an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing the image data to correct one image and then synthesizing the image data into one properly exposed image.

[2] Based on the photographing optical system that guides a subject image onto the accumulation type image sensor and the subject luminance information and the focal length information of the photographing optical system, the blurring of the accumulation type image sensor can be ignored during photographing. A control unit that sets a storage time and the number of continuous shootings for obtaining an appropriate exposure amount by shooting during the storage time, a shake sensor that detects shake information regarding a shake that occurred during the continuous shooting, and Based on the storage means for storing the obtained plurality of image data and the image data and the blur information stored in the storage means, the mutual image shifts are corrected and then combined into one properly exposed image. An image pickup apparatus including an image synthesizing unit is provided.

[3] Based on the photographing optical system that guides a subject image onto the accumulation type image sensor and the subject brightness information and the focal length information of the photographing optical system, the blurring of the accumulation type image sensor can be ignored during photographing. Control means for setting the accumulation time and the number of continuous photographing for obtaining an appropriate exposure amount by photographing for this accumulation time, storage means for storing the obtained plurality of image data, and storage means for storing in the storage means. Provided is an image pickup apparatus including an image synthesizing unit that corrects mutual image shifts based on the image data and then synthesizes the image into one properly exposed image, and a display unit that displays the synthesized image.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The basic part of the present invention is shown below as a first embodiment, and a more concrete form is shown as a second embodiment. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

The image blur detection according to the present invention employs a method of detecting "blur between images" at a plurality of positions of an image as disclosed in the prior art (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-109970). Shall be carried out.

As shown in the figure, this image pickup device is composed of the following means. Photographing optical means 1 for forming an image of a subject on the image pickup means 2, image pickup means 2 for converting the subject into an electric signal, photometric means 3 for measuring the brightness of the subject, brightness information of the photometric means 3 and photographing. A storage control unit 4 for setting a signal storage time of the image pickup unit 2 based on focal length information and aperture information of the optical unit 1, a memory unit 5 for recording an electric image of the image pickup unit 2, and a memory unit 5 of the memory unit 5. A blur detection unit 6 that detects blur from a plurality of images that are continuously shot, a blur correction unit 7 that corrects the blur based on the blur information detected by the blur detection unit 6, and a corrected image are displayed. The image pickup device mainly includes the display unit 8.

(Function and Effect 1) In the above-mentioned structure, each means has the following functions. The accumulation control means 4 is an optimum image pickup means 2 for photographing a non-blurring image a plurality of times based on the focal length information, the aperture information and the brightness information of the photographing optical means 1 in order to obtain an image with the optimum exposure.
Set the storage time of. The image pickup means 2 carries out photographing a plurality of times during the set accumulation time and stores the image in the memory means 5.
Keep records.

The blur detection means 6 detects blurring between images of a plurality of images recorded and held in the memory means 5. Also,
The blur correction unit 7 shifts the positions of a plurality of images according to the blur information of the blur detection unit 6 and superimposes them, that is, performs addition processing, and synthesizes an optimum image.

Therefore, it is possible to provide an image with proper exposure without blur even when shooting is performed when the storage time is long. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure relating to the “blurring processing”.

This routine is executed by a predetermined control means as a main routine of the blurring process which is a feature of the present invention, and calls a subroutine described later. When this sequence is started (S10), first, the optimum accumulation time ta for the image sensor used is set from "brightness information" and "aperture information".

An accumulation time t (f) with less blurring is set from "photographing focal length information" (S12). The optimum storage time ta and the storage time t (f) are compared in size (S1).
3). Here, when ta <t (f), the actual accumulation time tg is set to ta, and the number of shootings ic is set to 1
(S14). Then, the photographing operation is performed and the process proceeds to step S20 (S42).

On the other hand, ta <t (
If it is not f), the accumulation time tg and the continuous photographing number ic are set by the call of the subroutine "accumulation time continuous photographing number setting" (S14).

The variable i is initialized to 1 (S15). Then, the photographing operation is performed (S16). Variable i and number of consecutive shots i
The size of c is determined (S17). If i = ic is not satisfied, the variable i is counted up to i + 1 and the process returns to step S16.

On the other hand, when i = ic, the blur (that is, the direction and the blur amount) between the photographic images “continuously shot” ic times is detected (S18). The detected blurring of each image is corrected and superimposed (S19).

The obtained photographed image is output and displayed on the display means (S20). Then, the above-described series of sequences is ended (S21). Further, the flowchart of FIG. 3 shows a subroutine relating to the above-mentioned “setting of storage time and number of continuous shooting”.

When this subroutine is called, the following setting sequence is started (S14). ta / t
(f) is performed, and the value after the decimal point is truncated is set in the variable b (however, the variable b is an integer) (S141).

At the actual accumulation time tg, {ta / (b +
1)} + α is set (however, α may be a predetermined short time, for example, 0) (S142). B + to the number of consecutive shots ic
1 is set (note that if ic = 1, continuous shooting is not performed) (S143).

From this sequence, the process returns to the main routine (S144). Here, a method for correcting a correct image based on a plurality of continuously shot images will be described.

A continuous image obtained by superimposing the three continuous shot images A to C shown in FIG. 4 (a) by superimposing them as shown in FIG. 4 (b) is generated. To do. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, the coincidence between the images is determined at a plurality of block points on the screen, and the “deviation amount” in the biaxial X and Y directions is detected.

If desired, this shift amount is "shifted" in the direction of complementing the shift of image B and image C with reference to image A. That is, the addition process is performed to obtain the combined image shown in FIG.

(Effect 1 ') As described in the above embodiment, even if a blur occurs at a long focal point or at a long time without adding a new sensor, the blur does not substantially occur. It is possible to provide a blur-free image by correcting the blur for each captured image obtained by performing continuous shooting with no accumulation time and performing the combining process.

Therefore, the blur detection need not be performed by the image sensor, but a plurality of divided photometric sensors or AF sensors may be used, or an angular velocity sensor, an angular acceleration sensor, a velocity sensor or an acceleration sensor, etc. Alternatively, a so-called “blur sensor” may be used.

The block diagram of FIG. 5 shown below illustrates a configuration in which a piezoelectric type angular acceleration sensor (hereinafter referred to as a piezoelectric sensor) is used in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention. In this example, a piezoelectric sensor 9 is added to each of the means shown in FIG. That is, the photographing optical unit 1, the image pickup unit 2, the photometric unit 3, the storage control unit 4, and the memory unit 5.
An image pickup device is mainly configured by the shake detection unit 6, the shake correction unit 7, the display unit 8, and the piezoelectric sensor 9.

However, the shake detecting means 6 is the memory means 5
The blur of the image is detected based on the information from the piezoelectric sensor 9 instead of the information from the blur sensor, and the blur correction unit 7 corrects the blur based on the detected blur information.

Further, the photometric means may be performed by using the signal of the image pickup means. (Advantageous effect 1 ″) When a sensor capable of directly measuring the blur is used, the blur correction between the images can be directly performed based on the blur information from the sensor, so that further speed-up processing can be performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of continuous shots can be obtained until a proper exposure is achieved with a substantially blur-free accumulation time, so that a plurality of substantially blur-free images can be obtained. The S / N is improved by correcting the blur for each shooting and performing the superimposing process, and as a result, it is possible to realize an image pickup apparatus capable of providing an image with proper exposure without blur.

(Second Embodiment) Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, an actual case will be described by taking an electronic camera as an example. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, blurring is performed by a method of detecting the correlation based on the correlation between captured images. Further, photometry and distance measurement (hereinafter abbreviated as AF) are also used as the image sensor.

The block diagram shown in FIG. 6 illustrates the configuration of the main part of the electronic camera. The following components are connected to the CPU 11 of the control circuit that controls the electronic camera as a whole. That is, the CCD 12 as an image sensor that captures a subject image and converts it into an electric signal, and a processing circuit 13 that performs a predetermined amplification process and A / D conversion process,
RAM1 for temporarily recording the generated digital signal
4, a zoom optical system 15 for zooming, an AF optical system 16 for automatic distance measurement, a zoom motor 17 for driving the zoom optical system, and an A for driving the AF optical system.
F motor 18 and LCD 1 for displaying and outputting the obtained image
9, an external memory 20 such as an IC card provided outside the CPU of the control circuit, and a release SW (that is, 1s
t, 2nd) 21, 22 and zoom SW (that is, Up, Down) 2
A main part of this electronic camera is constituted by a group of operation switches such as 3, 24 and a main SW 25.

(Operation and Effect 2) In the electronic camera having the above-described structure, when the user turns on the main SW 25, the AF system is driven and the image photographed by the CCD 12 on the LCD 19 is optimized by the processing circuit (for example, AGC (Aut
o Gain Control), storage time control, etc.) and displayed as a movie. When the release SW is operated, the still image shooting operation is started, and the CPU 11 sets the zoom value, the “brightness information”, and the “aperture information” to the storage time without blur and the number of continuous shooting, and the shooting is performed. RAM for multiple captured images
The CPU 11 accumulates and stores the images in the image memory 14, and the CPU 11 detects the displacement between the images, corrects the displacement, and synthesizes the images by the above-described method, outputs the synthesized image to the LCD 19, and outputs the external memory 20. Record and save in.

Therefore, it is possible to provide an image with proper exposure without blur even in the case of long-focus photographing which is likely to cause blurring and also in the case of photographing when the accumulation time is long. In addition, CPU11 is RIS
Processing time can be further shortened by using C (Reduced Instruction Set Computer).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a series of processing sequences relating to "photographing". This routine is a camera sequence of the electronic camera according to the present invention, and the "blur processing" which is a feature of the present invention is executed by a later-described subroutine called in this main routine.

With the start of photographing (S101), the camera first determines the state of the main SW (S102). If the main SW is OFF, the process is forcibly terminated and the process branches to step S124 to terminate this routine.

On the other hand, when the main SW is turned on, the following series of processing steps are performed. Initialize (for example, initial setting of lens position) (S1)
03).

As a substitute for the finder, a moving image is displayed on the LCD, and AF (for example, "contrast AF" or "mountain climbing AF") and automatic exposure for display (hereinafter referred to as "A").
(Abbreviated as E) is started (S104).

Here, the state of the main SW is judged again (S105). Here, when the main SW is OFF,
In order to forcibly end this sequence, the process branches to step S124 to end this routine.

On the other hand, if the main SW is ON, the zoom SW (that is, zoom up or zoom down) is determined (S106, S121). If the zoom is up, the zoom is set to the long focus side. Drive a predetermined amount (S12
2). On the other hand, in the case of zoom down, the zoom is driven to the short focus side by a predetermined amount (S123). After the driving is completed, the process returns to step S105.

In step S106, if no zoom operation has been performed, 1st. The release state is determined (S107). Again, 1st. If the release is OFF, the process returns to step S105.

On the other hand, 1st. If the release is ON,
A subroutine "exposure setting" which will be described later is called to set a still image shooting exposure (S108). Then, AF lock is performed (S109).

Again, 1st. The release state is determined (S111), and if the 1st. If the release is OFF, the process returns to step S1105. On the other hand, 1st. Release ON
In the case of 2nd. The release state is determined (S111). 2nd. If the release is OFF, the process returns to step S110. On the other hand, 2nd. If the release is ON, 1 is set to the variable i (S112).

Lock the display of the moving image. That is, the screen continues to be displayed as it was just before shooting (S113). Then, a subroutine "imaging process" which will be described later is called to perform imaging, and the process returns to step S105 (S114).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing sequence relating to the above-mentioned subroutine "exposure setting".
When this routine is called, this exposure setting sequence is started (S108).

First, the current zoom value f is read (S8).
1). The optimum accumulation time ta is set based on the lens information (for example, photographing aperture information) and the brightness information (S82).

The blur prevention second tp is set based on the focal length f (S83). Optimal accumulation time ta and shake prevention second t
A comparison with p is made (S84). If ta <tp, the actual accumulation time tg is set to ta, and the number of continuous shooting ic is set to 1 (S88).

On the other hand, if ta <tp is not satisfied, the calculation ta
/ Tp is performed, and the value rounded down to the right of the decimal point is set in the variable b (however, the variable b is an integer) (S85). Set {ta / (b + 1)} + α to the actual accumulation time tg (however, the constant α may be a predetermined short time or 0)
(S86).

B + 1 is set to the continuous shooting number ic (however,
ic = 1 means that continuous shooting is not performed) (S
87). Then, the series of processes described above is completed and the process returns to the main routine (S89).

Further, the flowchart of FIG. 9 shows the above-mentioned subroutine, that is, the processing sequence of "the blur prevention second time setting based on the f value" relating to the second setting without blurring. When it is called and the sequence for setting the second time without blurring is started (S83), the blurring preventing second time tp is set according to the value of the focal length f as follows. Specifically, first, the magnitude of fw and f is compared (S831), and if
If fw> f, the calculation tp = 1 / fw is performed (S83
4) The process proceeds to step S836 and returns. on the other hand,
If fw> f is not satisfied, ft and f are compared in size (S832). If f> ft, the calculation tp = 1.
/ (2f) is performed (S835).

On the other hand, when f> ft is not satisfied, the calculation t
p = 1 / f is performed (S833). Then, the series of processing steps are ended and the process returns to the called main routine (S836).

The values of the above variables may be set as follows. fw: a predetermined value on the short focus side, for example, a measured value f = 60 mm ft: a predetermined value on the long focus side, for example, a measured value f = 150
mm Further, the long focus side may be shifted to the shorter side for a predetermined time.
For example, when f> ft, tp = 1 / (f + d) may be calculated. However, d is a predetermined value.

Here, FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the focal length f and the 1 / tp which are set at the second for preventing blurring. As can be seen from the tendency shown in this graph, for example, on the short focus side, even if the focal length becomes shorter from fw,
The time tp becomes constant.

On the contrary, when the length becomes longer than the long focal length side ft,
It can be seen that the time tp becomes even shorter. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the above-mentioned subroutine "imaging processing" is performed.
Is exemplified. When this routine is called, the imaging process is started (S114), and first, the signal of the sensor is reset (S402).

Accumulation (that is, imaging during the accumulation time tg) is performed (S403). The signal is read out (that is, AGC (Auto Gain Control) processing is performed on the predicted accumulated signal and A / D conversion is performed) (S404).

The digital signal is recorded and held in the RAM (S405). The size of the continuous shooting number i and the shooting number ic is determined (S406). If i = ic, then i
Is set to i + 1 (that is, i is incremented by 1), and the process returns to step S402 (S407).

On the other hand, when i = ic, the magnitude of the value of ic is subsequently determined (S411). If ic = 1
In the case of, it progresses to step S415. On the other hand, if ic = 1 is not satisfied, the next processing step (S412 to S414)
I do. That is, the blur between the images is obtained from the correlation between the images (the details are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-109970, so the description is omitted) (S412).

The shift for each image is shifted by a predetermined amount with reference to, for example, the first image (that is, the continuous first image A) (S413). The shifted images are added and combined (S414).

The data is recorded in the external memory (S415). The captured image is output for display for a predetermined time (S416).
Instead of the viewfinder, the LCD display of the moving image is returned (S417).

Then, the series of processes described above is completed, and the process returns to the called main routine (S418). (Function and Effect 2 ′) As described in the present embodiment, according to the above-described method, even when a blur occurs such as at a long focus or at a long time, there is substantially no blur and the S / N is as good as possible. It is possible to stably obtain a plurality of images. In addition, image quality S /
N is further improved, and an image with proper exposure without blurring can be displayed and output on the spot.

(Modification 2) The above-described blur detection need not be performed by an image sensor, but may be performed by using a plurality of divided photometric sensors or AF sensors, or an angular velocity, an angular acceleration, a velocity, an acceleration sensor. A blur sensor such as the above may be used.

The photometric means may use the signal of the image pickup means. The AF may have a dedicated configuration. Further, in the synthesis, it is possible to save the memory by correcting the blur at the time of reading and performing the addition process.

It is a preferred embodiment that the camera is provided with both a shake correction mode and a shake non-correction mode. This is because a user who is good at shooting has less blurring, and thus does not need continuous shooting or does not need continuous shooting.

Further, the actual accumulation time may be measured by a sensor capable of measuring the blur in real time, and when the blur of a predetermined amount or more occurs, the photographing is stopped and the next photographing may be started.

(Other Modifications) The respective means described in the specification may specifically have the following correspondence relationships. For example, the photographing optical unit 1 includes the zoom optical system 15 and the AF.
It corresponds to the optical system 16 or the distance measuring means 30. Imaging means 2
Corresponds to the CCD 12. The photometric means 3 is an AE not shown.
Corresponds to the mechanism. The storage control means 4 corresponds to the control circuit 11 including a CPU. The memory means 5 corresponds to the external memory 20 or the RAM 14. The blur detecting unit 6 corresponds to an image sensor, a photometric sensor, an AF sensor, or various speed sensors. The blur correction unit 7 corresponds to a program such as "blurring process". The display means 8 corresponds to the LCD 19. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Although the description has been given based on a plurality of embodiments, the present invention includes the following inventions. [1] Based on a photographic optical system that guides a subject image onto a storage-type image sensor, and a storage time of the storage-type image sensor that can be ignored in a shake during shooting, based on subject brightness information and focal length information of the shooting optical system. Control means for setting the number of continuous photographing for obtaining an appropriate exposure amount by photographing for this accumulation time, storage means for storing the obtained plurality of image data, and image data stored in the storage means Therefore, the image pickup apparatus is provided with: an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes a properly exposed image after correcting the mutual displacement.

[2] Based on the photographing optical system that guides a subject image onto the accumulation type image sensor and the subject brightness information and the focal length information of the photographing optical system, the blur of the accumulation type image sensor can be ignored during photographing. A control unit that sets a storage time and the number of continuous shootings for obtaining an appropriate exposure amount by shooting for the storage time, a shake sensor that detects shake information regarding a shake that occurred during the continuous shooting, and Based on the storage unit that stores the obtained plurality of image data and the image data and the blur information stored in the storage unit, the mutual image shift is corrected and then combined into one properly exposed image. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image combining unit.

[3] Based on the photographing optical system that guides a subject image onto the accumulation type image sensor and the subject luminance information and the focal length information of the photographing optical system, the blur of the accumulation type image sensor can be ignored during photographing. Control means for setting a storage time and the number of continuous shots for obtaining an appropriate exposure amount by shooting for this storage time, storage means for storing the obtained plurality of image data, and storage means for storing in the storage means. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image synthesizing unit that corrects mutual image shifts based on the image data and then synthesizes the image into one properly exposed image; and a display unit that displays the synthesized image.

(1) Image pickup means for converting an image into an electric signal, a storage control circuit for setting a storage time with little blurring of the image pickup means and the number of continuous shootings, and a blurring between continuously shot images is detected. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a detection unit that adjusts a blur and a correction unit that corrects a blur between continuously captured images and superimposes them.

Operation 1: The image pickup means converts an image into an electric signal, and the accumulation control means sets the accumulation time for reducing the blurring of the image pickup means and the number of consecutive photographings, and performs the photographing. Detects blurring between consecutively captured images. The blur correction unit corrects blur between continuously shot images and performs a superimposing process to obtain a target image.

Effect 1: It is possible to obtain a plurality of images having substantially no blur by continuously shooting a plurality of images in the accumulation time without blur until the proper exposure is performed, and the S / N of the image quality is the blur for each photographing. It is possible to provide an image with proper exposure without blurring as a result of improvement by correcting and correcting.

(2) A photographing optical system for forming an image of a subject on the image pickup means, an image pickup means for converting an image into an electric signal, a photometric means for calculating an image accumulation time of the image pickup means suitable for photographing, and a photographing optical system. A storage control circuit for setting the storage time of the image pickup means at the time of shooting and the number of continuous shootings based on the focal length information of the image pickup device and the appropriate storage time determined by the photometric means, and continuously shot images An image pickup apparatus comprising: a detection unit that detects a blur between the images and a correction unit that corrects the blur between the continuously shot images and superimposes the images.

Action 2: The photographing optical means forms an image of the subject on the image pickup means, and the image pickup means converts the image into an electric signal.
The photometric means calculates the image storage time of the image pickup means suitable for shooting, and the storage control means determines the image storage time of the actual shooting based on the shooting focal length information of the shooting optical means and the appropriate stored image pickup time determined by the photometric means. Shooting control is performed by setting the image accumulation time and the number of times of continuous shooting. The blur detection unit detects blurring between continuously captured images, and the blur correction unit corrects blurring between continuously captured images to perform superimposition processing to obtain a target image.

Effect 2: By setting the non-blurring accumulation time from the proper exposure time and the photographing focal length, and taking a plurality of continuous shots until the proper exposure is obtained, there is practically no blurring and a plurality of S / Ns with a good S / N are obtained. Image can be obtained, and the S / N of the image quality is improved by correcting the blur for each shooting and performing the superimposing process. As a result, an image with proper exposure without blur can be provided.

(3) A photographing optical system for forming an image of a subject on the image pickup means, an image pickup means for converting an image into an electric signal, a memory means for storing photographed image data, and an image of the image pickup means suitable for photographing. The photometric means for calculating the accumulation time, the focal length information of the photographing optical system, and the accumulation time of the image pickup means at the time of photographing based on the appropriate accumulation time determined by the photometric means, and the number of continuous photographing A storage control circuit to be set, a detection unit that detects a blur between continuously shot images, a correction unit that corrects a blur between continuously shot images and superimposes it, and an image display unit that displays the superposed images An image pickup apparatus comprising:

Action 3: The photographing optical means forms an image of the subject on the image pickup means, the image pickup means converts the image into an electric signal, and the memory means temporarily records the photographed image. The photometric means calculates the image storage time of the image pickup means suitable for shooting, and the storage control means determines the image storage time of the actual shooting based on the shooting focal length information of the shooting optical means and the appropriate stored image pickup time determined by the photometric means. Shooting control is performed by setting the image accumulation time and the number of times of continuous shooting. The blur detection unit detects blurring between continuously shot images, the blur correction unit corrects blurring between continuously shot images and performs superimposing processing, and the image display unit responds to the correction amount. And output the target image that has been superimposed.

Effect 3: By setting a blur-free accumulation time from the proper exposure time and the photographing focal length, taking a plurality of continuous shots until the proper exposure and accumulating in the memory means, there is practically no blurring and S / It is possible to stably obtain a plurality of images of good N, and the S / N of the image quality is improved by taking out from the images recorded in the memory means, correcting the blur for each shooting, and superimposing the images. As a result, an image with proper exposure and no blurring can be displayed and provided on the spot.

(4) The image pickup apparatus according to (2) or (3), wherein the photometric means generates an output signal based on the output signal of the image pickup means. (5) The blur detecting means detects a blur based on a correlation between continuously photographed images (1),
The imaging device according to (2), (3), or (4).

(6) The image pickup apparatus described in (1), (2), (3) or (4), wherein the blur detecting means detects a blur between images by a piezoelectric sensor. (7) a photographing optical system, an image pickup means with a variable storage time,
Computing means for setting a proper accumulation time for giving a proper exposure,
An exposure control unit that sets a storage time in which blurring during shooting is negligible, and the number of continuous shootings that is determined according to the relationship between the storage time and an appropriate storage time, and a shift between images that are continuously shots is corrected. And an image synthesizing unit that adds the values after performing the imaging.

(8) Photographing optical means for forming an image of a subject, imaging means for converting the image formation of the subject into an electric signal, photometric means for measuring the brightness of the subject, and "brightness of the photometric means. Information "and" focal length information "and" aperture information "of the photographing optical means, storage control means for setting a signal accumulation time of the image pickup means, memory means for recording an electric image of the image pickup means, and A blur detecting unit for detecting blur from a plurality of images continuously shot in the memory unit, a blur correcting unit for correcting blur based on "blurring information" detected by the blur detecting unit, and a corrected image An image pickup apparatus comprising: a display unit for displaying and outputting.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a new sensor is not particularly added, even if a blur occurs due to a long focus or a long time with a simple structure, it is substantially possible. An electronic camera that can easily obtain a blur-free image without degrading the image quality of still images by performing continuous shooting with blur-free accumulation time, correcting the blur for each captured image, and then performing compositing processing by superimposing It is possible to provide an imaging device such as.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a main routine relating to “blur processing”.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a subroutine relating to “setting of accumulation time and number of continuous shots”.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a state of blur detection, where (a) is
A conceptual diagram showing a state in which coincidence between images is judged at a plurality of block points on a screen and a shift amount is detected in two axis directions,
FIG. 6B is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which a shift amount is shifted and an addition process is performed.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram showing a configuration when a piezoelectric angular acceleration sensor is used in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence relating to “photographing”.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence relating to “exposure setting”.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence of “blur prevention second setting from f value” relating to second setting without blur.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between 1 / tp and the focal length f of the blur-free second setting.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a processing sequence relating to “imaging processing”.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photographing optical means, 2 ... Imaging means, 3 ... Photometric means, 4 ... Storage control means, 5 ... Memory means, 6 ... Blurring detection means, 7 ... Blurring correction means, 8 ... Display means, 9 ... Piezoelectric sensor, 10 ... image pickup device (main part), 11 ... control circuit (CPU), 12 ... CCD, 13 ... processing circuit (AMP, A / D), 14 ... RAM, 15 ... zoom optical system, 16 ... AF optical system, 17 ... Zoom motor, 18 ... AF motor, 19 ... LCD, 20 ... External memory, 21, 22 ... Release SW, 23, 24 ... Zoom SW, 25 ... Main SW, 30 ... Distance measuring means. S10 ... Blur processing (main routine), S14 ... Accumulation time / number of consecutive shots setting (subroutine), S101 ... Photographing processing (main routine), S108 ... Exposure setting (subroutine), S83 ... Blur prevention time setting from f value ( Subroutine), S114 ... Imaging processing (subroutine).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An accumulation optical system for guiding a subject image onto a storage-type image sensor, and accumulation of the accumulation-type image sensor in which blurring can be ignored during photographing based on subject brightness information and focal length information of the photographing optical system. Control means for setting the time and the number of continuous shots for obtaining an appropriate exposure amount by shooting of this accumulation time, storage means for storing the obtained plurality of image data, and storage means for storing in the storage means An image pickup apparatus, comprising: an image combining unit that corrects the mutual deviation of image data and then combines the image data into one image with proper exposure. 2. An image pickup optical system for guiding an object image onto an image storage type image sensor, and a storage of the image storage type image sensor in which blurring can be ignored at the time of image pickup based on object brightness information and focal length information of the image pickup optical system. Control means for setting the time and the number of continuous shots for obtaining an appropriate exposure amount by shooting for this accumulation time; a blur sensor for detecting blurring information relating to blurring occurring during continuous photography; Storage means for storing a plurality of image data thus obtained, and an image to be combined into one properly exposed image after correcting mutual image shifts based on the image data and the blur information stored in the storage means An image pickup apparatus comprising: a combining unit. 3. An image pickup optical system for guiding an object image onto an image storage type image sensor, and accumulation of the image storage type image sensor in which blurring can be ignored at the time of image pickup based on object brightness information and focal length information of the image pickup optical system. Control means for setting the time and the number of continuous shots for obtaining an appropriate exposure amount by shooting of this accumulation time, storage means for storing the obtained plurality of image data, and storage means for storing in the storage means An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image synthesizing unit that corrects mutual image shifts based on image data and then synthesizes the image into one properly exposed image; and a display unit that displays the synthesized image.