JP2000106645A - Image pickup device, image pickup method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a video signal with optimum image quality and to prevent a field angle from deviating by a photographing mode, even when the read area of a solid-state image pickup element is changed by means of a plurality of photographing modes. SOLUTION: This image pickup device is provided with an image pickup element 2, that converts an object image magnified into an arbitrary size by an optical zoom device 1, consisting of a plurality of lenses and capable of conducting zoom processing optically into a video signal, an image pickup element control means 4 that reads a video signal in an arbitrary area in the image pickup element 2, and a zoom magnification control means that compensates a difference from a field angle resulting from the difference from a read area of the image pickup element 2, because the read area is switched by the image pickup equipment control means 4, and the user need not match the field angle by himself, even if the field angle of the read image signal differs.

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, an image pickup method, and a storage medium, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus mounted on a video camera or the like. It is suitable for use when a signal is generated and these video signals are switched to operate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows an example of a conventional imaging apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imaging device. As shown in FIG. 5, this imaging apparatus includes a solid-state imaging device 2, a solid-state imaging device control unit 4, an AD converter 6, a camera signal generation unit 7, a DA converter 8, a first clock generation unit 51, and a second
Clock generation means 52, first control signal generation means 5
3. Second control signal generating means 54, low-pass filter means 55, thinning means 56, first converting means 57, second converting means 58, third clock generating means 59, third control signal generating means 60 , Selecting means 61 and the like.

With such a configuration, by switching between two clocks, it is possible to selectively read a video signal of a partial area of the solid-state imaging device and a video signal of the entire area. Thus, it is possible to shoot a video required for a moving image standard when shooting a moving image, and to shoot a high-definition image using more pixels when shooting a still image.

As a second conventional example, for example, a magnetic recording apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-199486 is configured to be able to record both a still image and a moving image. There is known an apparatus in which a clear still image can be obtained by forcibly prohibiting operation of an actuator of a zooming lens group in a still image recording mode.

[0005]

However, in the first conventional example, the readout area of the solid-state imaging device differs between the first clock and the second clock. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the first clock reads out an image of an area which is a partial area (broken line) of the subject image in the solid-state imaging device, that is, FIG. 6B. Further, in the second clock, the video which is the entire area, that is, FIG. 6C is read. For this reason, the angle of view of the image signal to be read is different, and there is a problem that the user has to adjust the angle of view by himself.

On the other hand, in the second conventional example, since the reading of the solid-state image pickup device is not controlled, the change in the angle of view as described above does not occur. However, when the driving process of the zoom lens is changed by switching between a moving image and a still image, the process of changing the zoom magnification is not performed correspondingly. There was a problem that occurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a video signal having an optimum image quality even when a readout area of a solid-state image pickup device is changed by a plurality of image pickup modes. That is. Further, at that time, the magnification of the optical zoom is switched so as to cancel the change in the angle of view caused by the change in the readout area of the solid-state image sensor, so that the shift in the angle of view does not occur depending on the imaging mode.

Another object of the present invention according to the present application is to use a video signal of a part of the solid-state imaging device at the time of capturing a moving image and to use a video signal of the entire region of the solid-state imaging device at the time of capturing a still image. That is, it is possible to record a video signal having an optimum image quality for each. At that time,
The objective is to switch the magnification of the optical zoom so as to cancel the change in the angle of view caused by the change in the readout area of the solid-state imaging device, so that the angle of view does not shift between the still image shooting and the moving image shooting. .

[0009]

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention converts a subject image enlarged to an arbitrary size by an optical zoom apparatus comprising a plurality of lenses capable of optically performing zoom processing into a video signal. An image sensor to be converted; an image sensor controller for reading a video signal of an arbitrary area in the image sensor; and an image caused by a difference in the read region of the image sensor being switched by the image sensor controller. The optical zoom apparatus is characterized by comprising zoom magnification control means for compensating for the difference in angle by changing the zoom magnification of the optical zoom device. Another feature of the imaging apparatus of the present invention is that an optical zoom apparatus including a plurality of lenses capable of optically performing a zoom process and an optical zoom apparatus having an arbitrary zoom magnification. Optical zoom control means for driving; an image sensor for converting a subject image enlarged by the optical zoom device into a video signal; and an image sensor control means for controlling to read a video signal of an arbitrary region in the image sensor. There is a difference between an imaging mode switching unit that switches an imaging mode of the imaging device to a plurality of imaging modes having different imaging regions and a readout region of the imaging device according to the imaging mode switched by the imaging mode switching unit. A zoom magnification for compensating for a difference in the resulting angle of view by changing a zoom magnification of the optical zoom processing according to the imaging mode. It is characterized by comprising a control means. Another feature of the imaging device of the present invention is that an optical zoom device including a plurality of lenses capable of performing a zoom process;
Optical zoom control means for controlling the zoom magnification of the optical zoom device so that the subject image enlarged by the optical zoom device has an arbitrary size; and converting the subject image enlarged by the optical zoom device into a video signal. An image pickup device, an image pickup mode switching means for arbitrarily switching an image pickup mode of the image pickup device between a moving image pickup and a still image pickup, and the image pickup device when the image pickup device is operating in the moving image pickup mode. Read out the video signal from a partial area of the element,
An image sensor control means for controlling to read out the video signal of the entire area when operating in the still image capturing mode; and a first means for recording the video signal when the image sensor is operating in the moving image capturing mode. A video signal recording unit having a recording unit, and a second recording unit for recording a video signal when operating in the still image imaging mode; And a zoom magnification control means for compensating for a difference in the angle of view caused by the change in the zoom angle of the optical zoom apparatus in accordance with the imaging mode.

According to the image pickup method of the present invention, a subject image enlarged to an arbitrary size by an optical zoom device including a plurality of lenses capable of optically performing a zoom process is converted into a video signal in an image sensor. A read control process for reading a video signal of an arbitrary region, and a difference in angle of view caused by a difference in a read region of the image sensor caused by switching of the region to be imaged by the image sensor, And performing zoom magnification control processing for compensating by changing the zoom magnification. Another feature of the imaging method according to the present invention is that a zoom process of optically changing the zoom magnification of an optical zoom device including a plurality of lenses and that the optical zoom device has an arbitrary zoom magnification. An optical zoom control process that drives the optical zoom device, a read control process that controls a zoom magnification of the optical zoom device so that the subject image enlarged by the optical zoom device has an arbitrary size, and an imaging mode of the image sensor. According to the imaging mode switching process of switching to a plurality of imaging modes with different imaging regions and the imaging mode switched by the switching process, a difference occurs in the readout region of the imaging device, and the resulting difference in the angle of view is And performing zoom magnification control processing for compensating by changing the magnification of the optically performed zoom processing according to the imaging mode. That. Another feature of the imaging method of the present invention is that a zoom process of optically performing a zoom magnification of an optical zoom device including a plurality of lenses and a subject image enlarged by the zoom process have an arbitrary size. A readout control process for controlling a zoom magnification of the optical zoom device, a video signal generation process for converting a subject image enlarged by the optical zoom device into a video signal by an image sensor, and an imaging mode of the image sensor. An imaging mode switching process for arbitrarily switching between a moving image imaging mode and a still image imaging mode, and reading out a video signal of a partial area of the imaging element when the imaging element is operating in the moving image imaging mode,
When operating in the still image imaging mode, an image sensor control process for controlling the image sensor so as to read the video signal of the entire area, and recording of a video signal when the image sensor is operating in the moving image imaging mode A video signal recording process for performing a first recording process for performing a second recording process for recording a video signal when operating in the still image capturing mode; And a difference between the angle of view and the time of still image capturing, and a zoom magnification control process for compensating for a difference in angle of view by changing a zoom magnification of the optical zoom apparatus according to the imaging mode. .

[0011] A storage medium according to the present invention is characterized in that a program for causing a computer to function as each means according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is stored so as to be readable from the computer. Another feature of the storage medium of the present invention is that a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure of the imaging method according to any one of claims 4 to 6 is stored so as to be readable from the computer. It is characterized by.

[0012]

Since the present invention comprises the above technical means, the optical zoom device comprising a plurality of lenses is driven so as to have a predetermined magnification designated in accordance with an instruction from the optical zoom control means, and a solid-state image pickup device in each imaging mode. In a state where the zoom magnification is determined so as to cancel the change in the angle of view due to the change in the readout area, the subject image enlarged by the solid-state imaging device and the optical zoom device is converted into a video signal. It is possible to prevent the angle of view from shifting depending on the mode.

According to another feature of the present invention, a video signal of a part of the solid-state imaging device is used at the time of capturing a moving image, and a video signal of the entire region of the solid-state imaging device is used at the time of capturing a still image. It is possible to record a video signal having an optimum image quality. At that time, the magnification of the optical zoom is switched so that the change in the angle of view caused by the change in the readout area of the solid-state image sensor is offset, and the angle of view is shifted between the still image shooting and the moving image shooting. Can be prevented from occurring.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention and showing a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus. In FIG. 1, an optical zoom device 1 includes a plurality of lenses, and is driven so as to have a specified magnification according to an instruction from an optical zoom control unit 3. The optical zoom control means 3 includes a solid-state imaging device 2 for each imaging mode.
The optical zoom device 1 is driven by determining the zoom magnification so as to compensate for the change in the angle of view due to the change in the readout area and to compensate for the shift in the angle of view in each imaging mode.

The solid-state image pickup device 2 includes the optical zoom device 1 described above.
Then, the subject image enlarged to have a predetermined size is converted into a video signal. The solid-state imaging device control means 4 controls so as to read out a video signal of an arbitrary region in the solid-state imaging device 2 depending on the imaging mode. Imaging mode switching means 5
Is for enabling a user to arbitrarily switch between a plurality of imaging modes having different imaging regions.

The A / D converter 6 converts an analog video signal output from the solid-state image sensor 2 into a digital video signal. The camera signal generation means 7 generates a video image signal from the digital image signal. The DA converter 8 converts a digital video signal into an analog video signal.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams showing the processing of the optical zoom control means 3 and the solid-state image sensor control means 4. FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the plurality of imaging modes are a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode,
In the imaging mode, a part of the image of the solid-state imaging device 2 is read. In the second imaging mode, images of the entire area of the solid-state imaging device 2 are read.

FIG. 2A shows a subject image on the solid-state imaging device 2 when the first imaging mode is selected. In this case, the area to be read is an area surrounded by a broken line at the center, and the read image is such that the airplane is fully displayed on the screen as shown in FIG.

When the mode is switched to the second imaging mode with the zoom magnification as it is, the image to be read remains the same as that of FIG. 2A, the angle of view is widened, and the size of the plane on the entire screen is reduced.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when switching from the first imaging mode to the second imaging mode, enlargement processing is performed by optical zoom. For example, the number of pixels in the first imaging mode is 400 pixels horizontally and 300 pixels vertically, and the number of pixels in the second imaging mode is 600 pixels horizontally and 45 pixels vertically.
Assuming that the number of pixels is 0, when switching from the first imaging mode to the second imaging mode, an enlargement process of 1.5 times the current magnification may be performed by optical zoom.

On the other hand, when the mode is switched from the second imaging mode to the first imaging mode, an enlargement process for reducing the size to 2/3 times (a process for reducing the size to 2/3) is performed. To do.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a change in zoom magnification between the first imaging mode and the second imaging mode. In the second imaging mode, the change is made to be 1.5 times that of the first imaging mode. FIG. 2C shows an image on the solid-state imaging device 2 when the mode is switched from the first imaging mode to the second imaging mode and 1.5 times optical zoom processing is performed. At this time, the image read from the solid-state imaging device 2 is shown in FIG.
Becomes the same angle of view as in FIG.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the readout area of the solid-state imaging device 2 is changed according to the imaging mode, so that a video signal of optimal image quality can be obtained. Further, at this time, the magnification of the optical zoom is switched so as to cancel the change in the angle of view caused by the change in the readout area of the solid-state image sensor 2, so that even when the imaging mode is changed, the angle of view is shifted. Can be prevented from occurring. This can save the user from having to adjust the angle of view himself.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a video camera. In FIG. 4, an optical zoom device 1 including a plurality of lenses is driven so as to have a designated magnification according to an instruction from the optical zoom control unit 3.

The optical zoom control means 3 determines the zoom magnification of the optical zoom device 1 so as to cancel the change in the angle of view due to the change in the readout area of the solid-state image sensor 2 in each image pickup mode, and controls the optical zoom device 1. Drive.

The solid-state imaging device 2 converts the subject image enlarged by the optical zoom device 1 into a video signal. The solid-state imaging device control means 4 controls so as to read out video signals in a partial area in the solid-state imaging device 2 in the moving image imaging mode, and to read out video signals in the entire region in the still image imaging mode.

The imaging mode switching means 5 is for allowing a user to arbitrarily switch between a moving image imaging mode for capturing an image and a still image imaging mode.

The output of the solid-state imaging device 2 is input to an automatic gain control (AGC) unit 10 via a sample hold (S / H) unit 9. The output of the automatic gain control means 10 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion means 11.

The Y / C separation means 12 includes two 1H delay lines,
And an adder for adding the input signal and the 2H delay signal,
The output of the adder is output as a color signal. Further, the 1H delay signal is output as a luminance signal. These color signals and luminance signals are input to the camera processing means 13, respectively.

The camera processing means 13 performs signal processing such as edge enhancement and gamma correction of the video signal output from the Y / C separation means 12. The output of the camera process means 13 is input to the recorder process 14 and the
Are input to a display 15 constituted by a liquid crystal monitor or the like. The recorder processing means 14 performs processing for recording a video signal on a medium or reading a signal recorded on a medium.

Moving picture recording means 16 and still picture recording means 1
7 has a recording medium such as a tape, a disk, and a memory;
A process of recording a video signal on these recording media or reproducing the recorded video signal is performed. In the moving image capturing mode, an image is recorded in the moving image recording unit 16. In the still image capturing mode, an image is recorded in the still image recording unit.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a part of the video signal of the solid-state imaging device 2 is used at the time of capturing a moving image, while the entire area of the solid-state imaging device 2 is captured at the time of capturing a still image. Since a video signal is used, a video signal having an optimum image quality can be recorded for each.

At this time, the magnification of the optical zoom is switched so as to cancel the change in the angle of view caused by the change in the readout area of the solid-state imaging device 2. Therefore, the angle of view is changed between the still image shooting and the moving image shooting. Cancellation can be performed so that no shift occurs, and a video signal with optimal image quality can be obtained.
This can save the user from having to adjust the angle of view himself.

(Other Embodiments of the Present Invention) The present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but is also applicable to an apparatus composed of one device. You may.

Further, in order to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment, a device connected to the above-mentioned various devices or a computer in a system is operated so as to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment. The present invention also includes programs implemented by supplying the program code of the software described above and operating the various devices according to programs stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.

In this case, the program code of the software implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, such as the program code The storage medium storing the information constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or other operating system running on the computer. Needless to say, even when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with application software or the like, such program codes are included in the embodiments of the present invention.

Further, after the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or the function expansion unit is specified based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the first embodiment performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0039]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus having a plurality of imaging modes, the readout area of the imaging device is changed according to each imaging mode. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a video signal having an optimum image quality. Further, at this time, the magnification of the optical zoom is switched so as to cancel the change in the angle of view caused by the change in the readout area of the image sensor, so that the shift of the angle of view does not occur depending on the imaging mode. This can save the user the trouble of adjusting the angle of view by himself.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a video signal of a part of the image sensor is used at the time of capturing a moving image, and a video signal of the entire area of the image sensor is used at the time of capturing a still image. It is possible to record a video signal of a high image quality. Further, at this time, the magnification of the optical zoom is switched so as to cancel the change in the angle of view caused by the change in the readout area of the image sensor, so that the angle of view does not shift between the still image shooting and the moving image shooting. This can save the user the trouble of adjusting the angle of view by himself.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating processing of a solid-state imaging device control unit and an optical zoom control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of an optical zoom control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video camera according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional imaging apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a problem of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Optical zoom device 2 Solid-state image sensor 3 Optical zoom control means 4 Solid-state image sensor control means 5 Imaging mode switching means 6 AD converter 7 Camera signal generation means 8 DA converter

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image pickup device for converting a subject image, which is enlarged to an arbitrary size by an optical zoom device including a plurality of lenses capable of optically performing a zoom process, into a video signal, An image sensor control means for reading a video signal in an arbitrary area; and a difference in view angle caused by a difference in the read area of the image sensor caused by switching of the read area by the image sensor control means. An imaging apparatus comprising: a zoom magnification control unit that compensates by changing a magnification. 2. An optical zoom device comprising a plurality of lenses capable of optically performing zoom processing, an optical zoom control means for driving the optical zoom device to have an arbitrary zoom magnification, and the optical zoom. An image sensor that converts a subject image enlarged by the device into a video signal; an image sensor controller that controls reading of a video signal in an arbitrary area in the image sensor; and an image capturing mode of the image sensor. An imaging mode switching unit that switches to a plurality of imaging modes having different areas; and a difference occurs in a readout area of the imaging element according to the imaging mode switched by the imaging mode switching unit. And a zoom magnification control unit that changes and compensates for the zoom magnification of the optical zoom processing according to an imaging mode. That the image pickup apparatus. 3. An optical zoom device comprising a plurality of lenses capable of performing a zoom process, and a zoom magnification of the optical zoom device such that a subject image enlarged by the optical zoom device has an arbitrary size. Optical zoom control means for controlling, an image sensor for converting a subject image enlarged by the optical zoom device into a video signal, and an image pickup mode of the image sensor can be arbitrarily switched between a moving image pickup and a still image pickup An image pickup mode switching unit that reads out a video signal of a partial area of the image pickup element when the image pickup element is operating in the moving image pickup mode, and reads an image of the entire area when the image pickup element is operating in the still image pickup mode. Image sensor control means for controlling a signal to be read; first recording means for recording a video signal when the image sensor is operating in a moving image imaging mode; A video signal recording unit having a second recording unit for recording a video signal when operating in a still image capturing mode; and a read area of the image sensor has a difference between when capturing a moving image and when capturing a still image. An imaging apparatus comprising: zoom magnification control means for compensating for a difference in angle of view caused by changing a zoom magnification of the optical zoom apparatus according to the imaging mode. 4. An image of an arbitrary region in an image sensor for converting a subject image enlarged to an arbitrary size into an image signal by an optical zoom device including a plurality of lenses capable of optically performing a zoom process. The difference in the angle of view due to the readout control processing for reading out the signal and the difference in the readout area of the image pickup device caused by the switching of the image pickup region by changing the zoom magnification of the optical zoom of the optical zoom device. And performing a zoom magnification control process for compensating for the change. 5. A zoom process for optically changing a zoom magnification of an optical zoom device including a plurality of lenses; an optical zoom control process for driving the optical zoom device to have an arbitrary zoom magnification; A readout control process for controlling a zoom magnification of the optical zoom device so that a subject image magnified by a zoom device has an arbitrary size; and an image pickup mode of the image pickup device being set to a plurality of image pickup modes having different image pickup regions. The imaging mode switching process to be switched, and the imaging mode switched by the switching process,
A difference is generated in the readout area of the image sensor, and a zoom magnification control process of compensating for a difference in the resulting angle of view by changing a magnification of the optical zoom process according to the imaging mode. A characteristic imaging method. 6. A zoom process for optically adjusting a zoom magnification of an optical zoom device including a plurality of lenses, and a zoom magnification of the optical zoom device so that a subject image enlarged by the zoom process has an arbitrary size. Read-out control processing, video signal generation processing of converting a subject image enlarged by the optical zoom device into a video signal by an image pickup device, and an image pickup mode of the image pickup device for moving image pickup and still image pickup. And an image pickup mode switching process for arbitrarily switching the image pickup device. When the image pickup device is operating in the moving image pickup mode, a video signal of a partial area of the image pickup device is read out. An image sensor control process for controlling the image sensor to read a video signal of an area; and a video signal when the image sensor is operating in a moving image imaging mode. A video signal recording process of performing a first recording process of recording a video signal and a second recording process of recording a video signal when operating in the still image capturing mode; A difference is generated between the time of image capturing and the time of still image capturing, and a zoom magnification control process for compensating for a difference in angle of view by changing a zoom magnification of the optical zoom device according to the imaging mode is performed. Imaging method. 7. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each of the means according to claim 1 to be readable from the computer. 8. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure of the imaging method according to claim 4 so as to be readable from the computer.