JP2002125149A - Image pickup device and its control method, and signal processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically discriminate output levels among data outputs and to correct a signal difference among the outputs, when an image pickup area of an image pickup element in the image pickup device is divided into image pickup areas and the device is configured to read the data from each divided image pickup area. SOLUTION: The image pickup device is provided with an imaging device 15 having the image pickup areas that generate electric signals corresponding to an incident luminous quantity and are divided into a plurality of area divisions and having output sections (CH1, CH2) that output the electric signals from the image pickup areas, with a shutter 14 that freely opens/shuts an incident optical path leading to the imaging device, and with LEDs (17a, 17b) that project a light to at least a part of the image pickup areas of the imaging device in a way of bridging over the image pickup areas.

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, a control method thereof, and a signal processing method. More specifically, an image pickup area of an image pickup device in an image pickup apparatus such as a digital camera is divided into a plurality of image pickup areas. An image pickup apparatus capable of automatically determining an output level between a plurality of outputs and correcting a signal difference between the plurality of outputs in a case where data is read for each area, a control method thereof, and signal processing It is about the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A configuration example of a conventional digital still camera will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, when a photographer operates a camera operation switch 201 (constituted by a main switch and a release switch of a camera), a change in the state of the camera operation switch 201 is detected by a general control CPU 200, and other circuit blocks are detected. Start supplying power to the

A subject image in a photographing screen range is formed on an image pickup device 204 through main photographing optical systems 202 and 203, and is converted into an analog electric signal. An analog electric signal from the image sensor 204 is processed analogously by a CDS / AGC circuit 205 and converted to a predetermined signal level, and further converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 206 for each pixel. Is converted.

The driver circuit 207 controls the horizontal and vertical driving of the image sensor 204 based on a signal from a timing generator 208 for determining the overall drive timing, so that the image sensor 204 outputs an image signal. I do.

Similarly, the CDS / AGC circuit 205 and the A / D converter 206 are also provided in the timing generator 2.
It operates based on the timing from 08.

A selector 209 selects a signal based on a signal from the overall control CPU 200. An output from the A / D converter 206 is input to the memory controller 215 via the selector 209, and the frame memory 216.
All signal outputs are transferred to Therefore, in this case, all the pixel data for each photographing frame are stored in the frame memory 21.
In the case of continuous shooting or the like, all the pixel data of the shot image is written into the frame memory 216 because the image data is temporarily stored in the memory 6.

After the writing operation to the frame memory 216 is completed, the contents of the frame memory 216 storing the pixel data are transferred to the camera digital signal processing unit (DSP) 210 via the selector 209 under the control of the memory controller 215. Forward. This camera DSP21
At 0, RGB color signals are generated based on each pixel data of each image stored in the frame memory 216.

Normally, in a state before photographing, the generated R
By transferring each of the GB color signals to the video memory 211 periodically (for each frame), a finder display or the like is performed by the monitor display unit 212.

On the other hand, when the photographer instructs photographing (that is, image recording) by operating the camera operation switch 201, each pixel data of one frame is stored in the frame memory by a control signal from the overall control CPU 200. 2
16, image processing is performed by the camera DSP 210, and then temporarily stored in the work memory 213.

Subsequently, the data in the work memory 213 is compressed by the compression / expansion unit 214 based on a predetermined compression format, and the compressed data is stored in the external nonvolatile memory 21.
7 (usually using nonvolatile memory such as flash memory)
To memorize.

Conversely, when observing captured image data, the data compressed and stored in the external memory 217 is expanded into normal pixel-by-pixel data through the compression / expansion unit 214, and the expanded pixel data is obtained. By transferring each data to the video memory 211, it is possible to observe the photographed image through the monitor display unit 212.

As described above, in a typical digital camera, the output from the image pickup device 204 is converted into actual image data through a signal processing circuit in almost real time, and the result is output to a memory or a monitor circuit. I have.

On the other hand, in the digital camera system as described above, the capability of continuous shooting and the like is improved (for example, 10
In order to obtain a capability close to the frame / second), it is necessary to improve the system including the image sensor, such as increasing the reading speed from the image sensor and increasing the writing speed of the image sensor data to the frame memory. is there.

FIG. 15 shows one of the improvement methods as CC.
FIG. 1 simply shows the structure of a two-output type device that divides a horizontal CCD, which is an image pickup device such as D, into two parts and outputs each signal.

In the CCD shown in FIG. 15, charges of each pixel generated by the photodiode section 190 are simultaneously transferred to the vertical CCD 191 at a predetermined timing, and charges of the vertical CCD 191 are transferred to the horizontal CCD 1 for each line at the next timing.
92 and 193.

In the configuration shown in FIG.
Transfers the charge toward the left amplifier 194 every transfer clock, and the horizontal CCD 193 transfers the charge toward the right amplifier 195 every transfer clock. The data is read out by dividing it into two right and left parts with the center of the screen as the boundary.

Usually, the amplifiers 194 and 195 are CCD
Although they are built in the device, since they come at positions far apart in terms of layout, the relative accuracy of both amplifiers 194 and 195 does not always match completely. For that reason,
When the left and right outputs of the amplifier are passed through separate CDS / AGC circuits 196 and 198, they are adjusted by the external adjustment means 197 and 199 to ensure matching between the left and right outputs.

[0019]

As described above, a method of simultaneously reading signals from two or more outputs as an image pickup device capable of realizing high-speed reading is to use a digital camera in the future as a silver halide camera (already a single lens reflex camera). This is an indispensable technology in order to achieve a product with a specification of about 8 frames / second in a silver halide camera of the type).

However, having a plurality of output systems is advantageous in terms of speed, but is clearly disadvantageous in terms of matching of output levels as compared with a system having only one output system.

A simple manual adjustment method, such as a conventional analog adjustment in the CDS / AGC circuit section or a digital adjustment in which both channels are adjusted with the output after A / D conversion, requires a considerable amount of time in the manufacturing process. Even if we match
For example, the value of the VR resistor itself changes due to a change in the environment, and it is extremely unlikely that the two tendencies in the temperature characteristics of the CDS / AGC circuit completely match.

Normally, when such a reading method of the image pickup device is performed, if the relative accuracy of the left and right outputs exceeds ± 1%, the imbalance of the boundary is clearly understood on the screen.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to correct a signal difference between a plurality of outputs when such an imaging device having a plurality of outputs is used.

[0024]

In order to achieve the above object, an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention generates an electric signal corresponding to the amount of incident light, and comprises: a plurality of divided image pickup areas; An imaging unit having a plurality of output units for outputting the electric signal to the imaging unit; a shutter unit capable of opening and blocking an incident optical path to the imaging unit; Light projecting means for projecting light to at least a part of the region.

Preferably, the light projecting means is disposed near the shutter means and near a division boundary of an image pickup area of the image pickup means.

[0026] More preferably, the apparatus further comprises a light guiding means provided near the light projecting means for guiding a light beam to an imaging area of the imaging means. According to this configuration, it is possible to more appropriately project light onto the imaging unit.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, a part of the shutter is used as the light guide. Preferably, the shielding member of the shutter means is used as light guiding means.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, optical means disposed between the shutter means and the image pickup means is used as the light guide means. Preferably, the optical unit is a protection member for protecting an imaging area of the imaging unit, or a low-pass filter.

According to the above configuration, since the existing configuration is used as the light guiding means, the limited space inside the camera can be effectively utilized, and the camera can be downsized.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a determining means for determining a correlation between the electric signals output from the plurality of output units.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a correction means for correcting the electric signal based on the correlation.

Preferably, the shutter means is controlled so that an optical path incident on the image pickup means is in a blocking state,
There is further provided control means for controlling the light emitting means to emit light in the shielding state.

In order to achieve the above object, another imaging apparatus according to the present invention generates an electric signal corresponding to the amount of incident light, and generates an electric signal corresponding to a plurality of divided imaging areas. An imaging unit having a plurality of output units that output an electrical signal, and a determining unit that determines a correlation between the electrical signals output from the plurality of output units, the electrical signal includes:
An electric signal generated by projecting light onto an area that is at least a part of the imaging area and straddles the plurality of divided areas in a state where light incidence on the imaging area is blocked.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a plurality of processing means for processing the electric signal for each of a plurality of output units of the image pickup means, wherein the discriminating means comprises: , The correlation between the electric signals in a certain image area is determined.

Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further comprises a correction means for correcting the electric signal based on the correlation. Preferably, using the correlation,
The electric signal is corrected.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further includes a synthesizing means for synthesizing the electric signals of the plurality of imaging regions corrected by the correcting means.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the correlation is a ratio between the electric signals and / or a difference between the electric signals.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided switching means for switching whether or not the determination means operates,
A storage unit for holding the determined correlation when the operation of the determination unit is performed.

In order to achieve the above object, an electric signal corresponding to the amount of incident light is generated, and a plurality of divided image pickup areas and a plurality of output sections for outputting the electric signals for each of the plurality of image pickup areas. Imaging means having: a shutter means capable of opening and closing an optical path incident on the imaging means; and a light projecting means for projecting light onto at least a part of an imaging area of the imaging means so as to straddle the plurality of imaging areas. A control method according to the present invention for an image pickup apparatus, comprising: a blocking step of blocking an incident optical path by the shutter means; a light emitting step of projecting light by the light emitting means in the blocked state; Determining a correlation between the electrical signals output from the plurality of output units.

In order to achieve the above object, an electric signal corresponding to the amount of incident light is generated, and a plurality of divided imaging regions and a plurality of output sections for outputting the electric signals for each of the plurality of imaging regions. The signal processing method according to the present invention for processing a signal obtained from an imaging unit having: a plurality of divided regions which are at least a part of the imaging region and are divided in a state where light incidence on the imaging region is blocked. And determining a correlation between the electric signals output from the plurality of output units, which are generated by projecting light onto a region straddling.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further comprises a processing step of processing the electric signal for each of a plurality of output units of the imaging means. Thus, the mutual correlation between the electric signals in a certain image area is determined.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises a correction step of correcting the electric signal based on the correlation. Preferably, using the correlation,
The electric signal is corrected.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further includes a combining step of combining the electric signals of the plurality of imaging regions corrected in the correcting step.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the correlation is a ratio between the electric signals and / or a difference between the electric signals.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switching step of switching the presence or absence of the operation of the determination step.
A storage step of retaining the determined correlation when the operation of the determination step is performed.

[0046]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 are views for explaining an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the overall structure of the camera as viewed from the side. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a shutter device 14 of the camera shown in FIG.

In the figure, 1 is an electronic still camera, 2
Reference numeral denotes a photographing lens for forming a subject image on an image forming surface, and is configured to be detachable from the electronic still camera 1. The photographing lens 2 includes an imaging lens 3 for imaging a subject image on an imaging surface, and a lens driving device 4 for driving the imaging lens 3, and a group of diaphragm blades for performing exposure control. 5 and an aperture driving device 6 for driving the aperture blade group 5. Although the imaging lens 2 is shown in a simplified manner in the drawing, the imaging lens 2 is composed of one or a plurality of lenses, and may be a lens having a single focal length (fixed focus), a zoom lens or a step zoom lens. The focal length may be variable as shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a main mirror for guiding a subject image formed by the photographing lens 2 to a focusing screen 8 and transmitting a part of the image to a focus detection device 13 through a sub-mirror 12, which will be described later. The main mirror 7 is configured to be movable by a mirror driving device (not shown) between a position where the subject image can be observed from the viewfinder and a retracted position where the main mirror 7 is retracted from the optical path of the subject light beam during photographing.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a focusing screen on which a subject light beam guided by the photographing lens 2 is reflected by the main mirror 7 to form an image. A subject image is formed on the focusing screen 8 during finder observation.

Reference numeral 9 denotes an optical member for converting and reflecting an object image formed on the focusing screen 8 into an erect erect image. In this embodiment, a penta roof prism is used. Reference numeral 10 denotes an eyepiece device for causing the subject image converted and reflected by the penta roof prism 9 into an erect image to reach the eyes of the photographer.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a photometer for measuring the luminance of the subject image formed on the focusing screen 8 through the penta roof prism 9 at the time of finder observation. The electronic still camera 1 of the present embodiment has an output of the photometer 11. The exposure control at the time of exposure is performed based on the signal.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a sub-mirror for reflecting the subject light transmitted through a part of the main mirror 7 and guiding the subject light to a focus detection device 13 arranged on the lower surface of a mirror box (not shown).

The sub-mirror 12 works in conjunction with the main mirror 7 and a mirror driving mechanism (not shown) of the main mirror 7. When the main mirror 7 is at a position where the subject image can be observed by the finder, the sub-mirror 12 sends the subject to the focus detecting device 13. It is configured to be movable to a position for guiding light, and to a retracted position to be retracted from the optical path of a subject light beam during photographing.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a focus detection device, which controls the lens driving device 4 of the photographing lens 2 based on the output signal of the focus detection device 13 and drives the imaging lens 3 to perform focus adjustment.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a shutter device for mechanically controlling the incidence of the subject light beam on the imaging surface. The shutter device 14 intercepts the subject light beam during finder observation, retracts from the optical path of the subject light beam according to a release signal during imaging, and starts exposure, and the shutter device 14 retracts from the optical path of the subject light beam during viewfinder observation. The shutter is a focal plane shutter having a rear blade group 14b that blocks a subject light beam at a predetermined timing after the start of the traveling of the front blade group 14a during imaging. A notch or a through hole is formed in the vicinity of the aperture opening of the shutter device 14 so as to project the luminous flux of the LED elements 17a and 17b described later to the front blade group 14a.

Reference numeral 15 denotes an image pickup device which picks up an object image formed by the photographing lens 2 and converts the image into an electric signal. As the imaging device 15, a known two-dimensional imaging device is used. Imaging devices include CCD, MOS, CI
There are various types such as a D type, and any type of imaging device may be adopted. In the present embodiment, the photoelectric conversion elements (photo sensors) are two-dimensionally arranged and accumulated by each sensor. It is assumed that an interline CCD image pickup device in which signal charges are output via a vertical transfer path and a horizontal transfer path is used. Further, the imaging element 15 has a so-called electronic shutter function for controlling the accumulation time (shutter time) of the electric charge accumulated in each sensor.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image pickup device 15 is protected by a cover glass 15b which is an optical protection member for protecting an image pickup area 15a of the entire screen, and a right half surface 15c.
And the left half surface 15d are vertically divided into two parts so that the respective photographed image data can be output simultaneously.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an image sensor 15 and an LE (described later).
D17a and 17b are electrically and mechanically coupled to each other to hold them.

Reference numerals 17a and 17b denote light projecting devices for projecting illumination light to the photographing area 15a of the image pickup device 15, and the present invention uses LED devices. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the LED elements 17 a and 17 b are arranged near the upper and lower side surfaces of the image sensor 15 so that the photographing area 15 a is divided into the right half surface 15 c and the left half surface 1.
The LED elements 17a and 17b are arranged so as to project light toward the shutter device 14 while being arranged on an extension of the division line 15e dividing the light into 5d.

The luminous flux of the LED elements 17a and 17b is
The light is projected onto the image capturing area 15a of the image sensor 15 with the image sensor 15 side of the front blade group 14a of the shutter device 14 as a reflection surface. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the LED elements 17a and 17b project light onto the imaging area 15a of the image sensor 15. As shown in FIG.
In the region of the right half surface 15c and the left half surface 15d
Light emitted from the ED elements 17a and 17b is projected.

Normally, the front blades of a shutter device of a camera using a silver halide film as a recording medium are coated with an anti-reflection coating to prevent fogging of the film due to stray light. However, the electronic still camera according to the present embodiment is configured to control the accumulation time (shutter time) of the electric charge accumulated in each sensor by the electronic shutter function of the imaging element 15 to perform the exposure time control. Therefore, at the start of accumulation in the image sensor 15, the front blade group 14a is in an open state, so that antireflection coating on the front blade group 14a for preventing fogging of the imaging region due to stray light becomes unnecessary.

Therefore, in order to efficiently project the luminous flux of the LED elements 17a and 17b to the photographing area 15a of the image pickup device 15, the front blade group 14a of the shutter device 14 of the electronic still camera 1 according to the first embodiment. It is preferable to use a high reflectivity material, or to perform high reflectivity coating, plating, or the like as a surface treatment. In order to illuminate the photographing area 15a of the image sensor 15 as widely as possible, it is desirable that the front blade group 14a of the shutter device 14 has a diffusion characteristic. In the present embodiment, in order to achieve the above two conditions, the surface of the front blade group 14a on the image sensor 15 side is subjected to a semi-gloss white tone coating or a semi-gloss gray tone coating.
A sufficient lighting effect can be obtained even if only one of the conditions is achieved.

In this embodiment, the LED element 1
The luminous fluxes of the light emitting devices 7a and 17b are directly projected and illuminated. A mask member having a specific pattern is provided in the vicinity of the light emitting portions of the LED elements 17a and 17b, and the optics for forming an image of the pattern on an imaging area. A member may be arranged and a specific pattern may be projected instead of the illumination light.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the first embodiment, the LED elements 17a and 17b are held by an electric board 16 which is a holding member of the image pickup element 15, and are electrically connected. The holding members of the elements 17a and 17b are formed on the shutter device 14 or a camera body (not shown),
The electrical connection may be made by connecting to the electric board 16 or another circuit board (not shown) by a flexible printed board, a lead wire or the like.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a filter member for removing high-frequency components of photographing light that causes noise, and is integrally held on a cover glass 15b of the image sensor 15. The filter member 18 is made of a material having birefringence characteristics, such as quartz and lithium niobate.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall hardware configuration of the electronic still camera 1 according to the first embodiment.

The electronic still camera 1 mainly includes a lens driving device 4 for driving the photographing lens 2, an aperture driving device 6,
Shutter device 14, image sensor 15, and image sensor 15
, An unbalance amount calculation circuit 116, a control circuit 121, a central processing unit (CPU) 117, and the like.

The CPU 117 comprises a light metering device 11, a focus detection device 13, a control circuit 121, an unbalance amount calculating circuit 116, a driver 120 for driving the LED elements 17a and 17b, and light emission to the image pickup element 15 by the LED elements 17a and 17b. Setting unit 118 for setting a calibration mode for performing or not to perform, display / warning unit 119
And various calculations such as an exposure value and a focal position of the photographing lens 2 according to a predetermined algorithm, and comprehensively manages controls such as automatic exposure control, auto focus, auto strobe, and auto white balance. Also,
The CPU 117 controls a corresponding circuit based on various input signals input from a release button (not shown) or an operation unit of the mode setting unit 118. When the calibration mode of the image sensor 15 is set by the mode setting unit 118, the CPU 117 turns on the calibration LED elements 17 a and 17 b by the driver 120 and emits light to the image sensor 15.

The output signal of the photometric device 11 is notified to the CPU 117, and the CPU 117 calculates an exposure control value indicating an exposure time. And the obtained exposure control value is CP
U 117 notifies the control circuit 121, and controls such as automatic exposure control, auto strobe, and auto white balance are performed via the control circuit 121.

The control circuit 121 includes a CPU 117
The control circuit controls the drive circuit of the image pickup device 15 based on the exposure control value notified from the, and controls the opening / closing timing of the shutter device 14 and the like, and also controls the aperture drive device 6 at the time of exposure.

In the above-described configuration, the luminous flux transmitted through the photographing lens 2 is transmitted to the aperture blade group 5 and the shutter device 1.
4 regulates the amount of light, and is projected and formed on the image sensor 15.

As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the image pickup device 15 can simultaneously output the respective signals of the right half surface 15c and the left half surface 15d (CH1 and CH2). These two
The image sensor 15 having two output systems includes a driver 100
, And operates at a predetermined frequency, and separately outputs left and right (15c, 15d) captured image data in such a manner that the entire screen is vertically divided into two. TG / SSG101
Is a timing generation circuit that outputs a vertical synchronizing signal VD and a horizontal synchronizing signal HD, and simultaneously supplies a timing signal to each circuit block.

The image output of the right half surface 15c of the image pickup device 15 is input to the CDS / AGC circuit 103 via the CH1 output, and is subjected to a known process such as correlated double sampling to output to a CCD or the like. In addition to removing the included reset noise and the like, the output is amplified to a predetermined signal level.
The output after the amplification is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 105 to obtain an output AD-CH1.

Similarly, the image output of the left half surface 15d of the image sensor 15 is output to the CDS / AGC circuit 102 via the CH2 output.
Then, by performing the same processing such as correlated double sampling, reset noise and the like included in the output of the CCD and the like are removed, and the output is amplified to a predetermined signal level. The output after amplification is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 104 to obtain an output AD-CH2.

The outputs AD-CH1 and AD-CH2 thus separately converted into digital data are supplied to the memories 109 and 106 via the memory controllers 108 and 106, respectively.
107 are sequentially stored.

When a calibration mode described later is set, AD-CH1 and AD-CH2
Are simultaneously input to an unbalance amount calculation circuit 116, and the unbalance amount of both outputs is calculated by a method described later, and the optimum correction amount is determined and stored.

Memory controllers 106 and 108
Can read and write to the memories 107 and 109 continuously in a normal time-division manner, so that the output from the image sensor 15 is written to the memories 107 and 109 at another timing while the output from the image sensor 15 is written to the memories 107 and 109. Data can be read out in the order of writing.

First, with respect to the output on the CH1 side of the image pickup device 15, data is continuously read from the memory 109 under the control of the memory controller 108 and input to the offset adjustment circuit 111. Here, the other input of the offset adjustment circuit 111 has a predetermined offset output OF1 calculated and set by the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116.
And the two signals are added inside the offset adjustment circuit 111.

Next, the output of the offset adjustment circuit 111 is
The signal is input to the gain adjustment circuit 113.
13 has an unbalanced amount calculation circuit 1
The predetermined gain output GN1 calculated and set in step 16 is input, and the two signals are multiplied inside the gain adjustment circuit 113.

Similarly, for the output on the CH 2 side of the image sensor 15, data is continuously read from the memory 107 under the control of the memory controller 106 and input to the offset adjustment circuit 110. Here, the other input of the offset adjusting circuit 110 has a predetermined offset output OF calculated and set by the unbalance amount calculating circuit 116.
2 is input, and both signals are added inside the offset adjustment circuit 116.

Next, the output of the offset adjustment circuit 110 is input to the gain adjustment circuit 112. Here, the other input of the gain adjustment circuit 112 has a predetermined value calculated and set by the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116. Gain output GN
2 is input, and the two signals are multiplied inside the gain adjustment circuit 112.

In this way, the image data output after the unbalance amount generated between the two outputs is corrected by the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116 is output to the image synthesis circuit 114 as one.
Converts to one image data (the left and right output becomes one output)
Then, predetermined color processing (color interpolation processing, γ conversion, and the like) is performed by the next-stage color processing circuit 115.

Next, the control in the calibration mode for calculating the correction amount by the unbalance amount calculating circuit 116 necessary for the screen synthesis in the first embodiment will be described.

The calibration mode is set by the photographer by the mode setting section 118 and the CPU 11
7 detects the setting state of the mode setting unit 118, the CPU 117 instructs the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116 that the mode is set to the calibration mode, and notifies the driver 120 of the L for calibration.
A lighting command for a predetermined time of the ED elements 17a and 17b is output. The LED elements 17a and 17b are
To project light onto the image sensor 15. The imaging device 15
According to the lighting time of the LED elements 17a and 17b, the accumulation of the image (FIG. 4) by the illumination light is started, and the CH1 output and the CH1 are output.
The signals are output to the CDS / AGC circuits 103 and 102 via two outputs, and the output signals are processed as described above. In the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116, the LED elements 17a,
For the image of the illumination light projected from the 17b element (FIG. 4),
An unbalance amount is calculated by a method described later, and an appropriate correction amount is determined. The calculated unbalance amount, correction amount, and the like are stored and stored in a memory mounted in the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116.

At this time, if it is determined that there is a clear abnormality in the image output from the image sensor 15, for example, LE
In the case where an image output from a portion illuminated by the light emitted from the D elements 17a and 17b cannot be obtained, the display / warning unit 119 informs the photographer that appropriate calibration cannot be performed. ing. Therefore, the photographer can recognize any abnormality of the camera (failure of the image sensor, signal processing circuit, LED, etc.) based on the result.

Next, the specific configuration and operation of the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, first, the LED elements 17a,
A / D conversion circuits 105 and 10 obtained by lighting 17b
AD-CH1 and AD-CH2, which are the outputs of 4, are input to the average value calculation circuits 130, 131, and 132. Here, the average value calculation circuits 130 to 132 average the data for each pixel over a certain predetermined range. The area setting is performed by the area selection circuit 133.

The area selection circuit 133 is provided with the TG shown in FIG.
The effective range of the data for each pixel output from the image sensor 15 is determined based on the VD / HD signal from the / SSG 101, and input signals for averaging by the average value calculation circuits 130 to 132 are permitted. Set the timing.

For example, the average value calculation circuit 130 is configured to control the LED elements 17a,
7b, the average value of each pixel data existing in the portion of the illumination unit a is calculated, and the average value calculation circuit 132 calculates the average value of the LED elements 17a, 1
The average value of each pixel data existing in the portion of the illumination part b by 7b is calculated.

On the other hand, the average value calculating circuit 131 supplies the LED elements 17a, 17a indicated by the image pickup area 15a of the image pickup element 15.
The average value of each pixel data existing in both the illumination parts a and b by b is calculated.

Accordingly, in this case, the average value of the pixel data in the predetermined range existing on the left half surface 15d of the image sensor 15 and the average value of the pixel data in the predetermined range existing on the right half surface 15c of the image sensor 15 shown in FIG. In addition, the average values of pixel data in a predetermined range existing on both the left and right sides of the image sensor 15 are calculated by the average value calculation circuits 130, 131, and 132.

Next, the average value calculation circuits 130, 131, 1
32 are denoted by V ₂ , V _{1 +2} , and V _1, and using the respective outputs, the divider circuits 134, 1
Each division is performed at 35.

First, in the division circuit 134, V _{1 + 2} / V ₂
Is calculated, and a value substantially proportional to the result is output from the correction data calculation circuit 138 as a GN2 signal. Similarly, the division circuit 135 calculates V _{1 + 2} / V ₁ , and outputs a value almost proportional to the result as the GN1 signal from the correction data calculation circuit 139.

The GN1 and GN2 signals calculated by the above method are input to the gain adjustment circuits 113 and 112 shown in FIG. 7, respectively, where actual correction is performed so that the output levels from both channels match. .

On the other hand, the average value calculation circuits 130, 131, 1
Subtraction circuit 1 connected to the next stage using the outputs of the 32
At 36 and 137, subtraction is performed.

First, in the subtraction circuit 136, V _{1 + 2} −V ₂
Is calculated, and a value substantially proportional to the result is output from the correction data calculation circuit 140 as an OF2 signal. Similarly it performs calculation of the subtraction circuit 137 in _{V 1} + 2 -V _1, and outputs as OF1 signal substantially proportional to the value from the correction data calculation circuit 141 to the result.

The OF1 and OF2 signals calculated by the above method are respectively applied to the offset adjustment circuit 111 shown in FIG.
And 110, the actual correction is performed so that the output levels from both channels match.

The output signals GN1, GN2, OF1, OF2 relating to the unbalance amount calculated by the above method.
Are stored and held in a memory (not shown) mounted in the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116.

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
When the imaging region of the imaging device is divided into a plurality of regions and image signals are separately output from the respective regions, the relative accuracy difference between the output systems is corrected, so that the signal difference between the regions can be made inconspicuous.

The method of correcting imbalance using the two types of signals (ratio and difference) relating to the amount of imbalance exists in the left half surface 15d of the pixel data output from the image sensor 15. By using the average value of the data of the predetermined range, the average value of the data of a predetermined range existing on the right half surface 15c, and the average value of the data of the predetermined range existing on the left half surface 15d and the right half surface 15c. ,
It is intended to correct imbalance between two outputs of the image sensor.

That is, in the case of the above-mentioned method, two types of correction, that is, gain adjustment and offset adjustment, are both performed on the data between the outputs of the two systems, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the imbalance adjustment may be performed by selecting only one of them.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the electronic camera according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, except that a cover glass 15b, which is a protection member for protecting the imaging region 15a of the image sensor 15, is used as a light guide member. However, this is different from the first embodiment. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to an enlarged view of the shutter device 14 of the camera shown in FIG.

In the figure, LED elements 17a, 17b
Are arranged on an extension of a dividing line dividing the photographing area 15a into a right half surface and a left half surface in the vicinity of the upper and lower side surfaces of the image sensor 15, and are arranged on the side surface of the image sensor 15;
The light-emitting surfaces of the elements 17a and 17b are arranged so as to project light toward the end surface of the cover glass 15b.

Therefore, the luminous flux emitted from the LED elements 17a and 17b is projected onto the photographic area 15a of the imaging element 15 with the back surface of the luminous flux incident surface of the cover glass 15b as a reflecting surface, and the luminous flux of the cover glass 15b is also reflected. The reflection is repeated between the back surface of the incident surface and the back surface of the photographing light beam exit surface, and the emitted light flux is guided to the center of the photographing region 15a, so that illumination is performed over a wide range of the photographing region 15a. Is obtained.

In the second embodiment, LE
The luminous flux of the D elements 17a and 17b is directly projected and illuminated.
A mask member having a specific pattern and an optical member for forming an image of the pattern on the imaging area may be provided, and a specific pattern may be projected instead of the illumination light.

The LED elements 17a and 17b are provided in the first
In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the image pickup device 15 is held by an electric board 16 as a holding member, and is electrically connected. The holding members for the LED elements 17a and 17b include a shutter device 14 and a camera (not shown). It is directly held on the main body, image sensor, etc., and the electrical connection is
It may be connected to the electric board 16 or another circuit board (not shown) by a lead wire or the like.

Other configurations and the operation of the electronic camera are the first.
Since the third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

As described above, even if the configuration of the second embodiment is used, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the electronic camera according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the filter member 18 integrally held with the cover glass 15b of the image sensor 15 is used as the light guide member. This is different from the first and second embodiments. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to an enlarged view of the shutter device 14 of the camera shown in FIG.

In the figure, LED elements 17a, 17b
Near the upper and lower side surfaces of the image sensor 15, are arranged on an extension of a dividing line dividing the photographing area 15a into a right half surface and a left half surface, and are arranged on the side surface of the filter member 18;
The light emitting surfaces of the ED elements 17 a and 17 b are arranged so as to project light toward the end surface of the filter member 18.

Accordingly, the luminous flux of the LED elements 17a and 17b is projected and illuminated onto the photographic region 15a of the image sensor 15 with the back surface of the photographic light beam incident surface of the filter member 18 as a reflecting surface, and the photographic light of the filter member 18 is photographed. The reflection is repeated between the back surface of the light beam incident surface and the back surface of the photographing light beam emitting surface, and the emitted light beam is guided to the center of the photographing region 15a, and illumination is performed over a wide range of the photographing region 15a. The effect is obtained.

Note that in the third embodiment, LE
The luminous flux of the D elements 17a and 17b is directly projected and illuminated.
A mask member having a specific pattern and an optical member for forming an image of the pattern on the imaging area may be provided, and a specific pattern may be projected instead of the illumination light.

Further, the LED elements 17a and 17b are
In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the image pickup device 15 is held by an electric board 16 as a holding member, and is electrically connected. The holding members for the LED elements 17a and 17b include a shutter device 14 and a camera (not shown). It is directly held on the main body, image sensor, etc., and the electrical connection is
It may be connected to the electric board 16 or another circuit board (not shown) by a lead wire or the like.

Other configurations and the operation of the electronic camera are the first.
Since the third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

As described above, even when the configuration of the third embodiment is used, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the electronic camera according to the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, except that light is projected from the front surface of a cover glass 15b, which is a protection member for protecting the imaging region 15a of the image sensor 15. However, this is different from the first to third embodiments. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to an enlarged view of the shutter device 14 of the camera shown in FIG.

In the figure, the LED elements 17a, 17b
Are arranged near the upper and lower side surfaces of the image sensor 15 on an extension of a dividing line dividing the photographing area 15a into a right half surface and a left half surface, and are arranged in front of the image sensor 15 side surface;
The light emitting surfaces of the ED elements 17a and 17b are covered with a cover glass 15b.
Are arranged so as to project light toward the photographing light beam incident surface.

Therefore, the light beams emitted from the LED elements 17a and 17b directly enter the photographing light beam incident surface of the cover glass 15b and directly illuminate the photographing region 15a of the image sensor 15, and as described above, the reflected light Since sufficient illumination luminance can be obtained as compared with the case of performing illumination, the LED elements 17a and 17b can be further reduced in size, and
The degree of freedom in the layout of the elements 17a and 17b is increased, and further improvement in space efficiency is expected.

Note that in the fourth embodiment, LE
The luminous flux of the D elements 17a and 17b is directly projected and illuminated.
A mask member having a specific pattern and an optical member for forming an image of the pattern on the imaging area may be provided, and a specific pattern may be projected instead of the illumination light.

The LED elements 17a and 17b are provided in the first
In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the image pickup device 15 is held by an electric board 16 as a holding member, and is electrically connected. The holding members for the LED elements 17a and 17b include a shutter device 14 and a camera (not shown). It is directly held on the main body, image sensor, etc., and the electrical connection is
It may be connected to the electric board 16 or another circuit board (not shown) by a lead wire or the like.

Other configurations and the operation of the electronic camera are the first.
Since the third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

As described above, even if the configuration of the fourth embodiment is used, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the electronic camera according to the fifth embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but the configuration of the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116 is the same as that described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG. different. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116 according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 10, first, the A / D conversion circuit 1
AD-CH1 and AD-CH, which are the outputs of
2 is an average value calculation circuit 130 similar to that shown in FIG.
Input to 132. As shown in FIG. 10, there is no average value calculation circuit 131 in FIG. Here, the average value calculation circuit 13
At 0 and 132, the data for each pixel is averaged over a predetermined range.
33.

The region selection circuit 133 is provided with the TG shown in FIG.
/ Validity range of data for each pixel output from the image sensor 15 based on the VD / HD signal from the SSG 102, and the timing at which the average value calculation circuits 130 and 132 permit input signals for averaging. Set.

For example, the average value calculation circuit 130 is configured to control the LED elements 17a, 1a,
7b, the average value of each pixel data present in the portion of the illumination unit a is calculated, and the average value calculation circuit 132 outputs the LED elements 17a, 17 indicated by the imaging area 15a of the imaging element 15.
The average value of each pixel data existing in the portion of the illumination part b by b is calculated.

Accordingly, in this case, the average value of the pixel data in the predetermined range existing on the left half surface (15c) of the image sensor 15 shown in FIG. Average value calculation circuit 13 calculates the average value of data
0 and 132 will be calculated.

Next, the outputs of the average value calculation circuits 130 and 132 are set to V ₂ and V _1, and division is performed by a division circuit 143 connected to the next stage using each output. The division circuit 143 performs an operation of V2 / V1, and a value substantially proportional to the result is output from the correction data calculation circuit 145 as a GN1 signal. On the other hand, the fixed output generation circuit 147 outputs a GN2 signal as a fixed output.

The GN1 signal and the GN2 signal, which is a fixed value, calculated by the above method are input to gain adjustment circuits 113 and 112 shown in FIG. 5, respectively, where the actual output levels from both channels are matched. Is corrected.

On the other hand, subtraction is performed by the subtraction circuit 144 connected to the next stage using the outputs of the average value calculation circuits 130 and 132.

First, the subtraction circuit 144 performs an operation of V ₂ −V ₁ , and a value substantially proportional to the result is output from the correction data calculation circuit 146 as an OF1 signal. On the other hand, the fixed output generation circuit 148 outputs an OF2 signal as a fixed output.

The OF1 signal and the fixed value OF2 signal calculated by the above-described method are input to the offset adjusting circuits 111 and 110 shown in FIG. 5, respectively, so that the output levels from both channels coincide with each other. The actual correction is made.

The output signals GN1, GN2, OF1, OF2 relating to the unbalance amount calculated by the above method.
Are stored and held in a memory (not shown) mounted in the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116.

The method of correcting the imbalance using the two types of signals (ratio and difference) relating to the amount of unbalance is described in the section of the pixel data output from the image pickup device 15 which exists in the left half plane. By using the relationship between the average value of the data in the range and the average value of the data in a certain predetermined range existing on the right half surface, the imbalance between the two outputs of the image sensor is corrected. Therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment, only one of them may be selected to perform the imbalance adjustment.

In the fifth embodiment, the values of GN2 and OF2 are fixed, and the division circuit 143 and the subtraction circuit 144 perform the operation using the value of AD-CH2 as a reference value. Is fixed and AD-CH1
It is needless to say that the configuration can be made such that the value is used as the reference value.

The other components and the operation of the electronic camera are the first.
Since the third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

As described above, even when the configuration of the fifth embodiment is used, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the electronic camera according to the sixth embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but the configuration of the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116 is the same as that of the first and fifth embodiments, and FIGS. Is different from the one described. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116 according to the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 11, first, the A / D conversion circuit 1
AD-CH1 and AD-CH which are the outputs of
2 via the memory controllers 153 and 152,
The data is transferred to the memories 155 and 154, respectively.

Here, the memory controllers 153, 1
The range of the image sensor data to be stored in the memories 155 and 154 via the memory 52 is determined at a predetermined timing generated by the timing generation circuit 150.
This is the block row data in the vertical direction indicated by. This a, b
The block indicated by <1> contains each color data (in this case, G / R / B / G) determined by the color filter array of the image sensor 15.

Therefore, the memory controllers 153, 1
52, the data from the memories 155 and 154 are read out for each block, and each color in this block is added by the next-stage luminance signal generation circuits 157 and 156 according to the equation (1) to obtain a simple luminance signal. Generate. Y = R + 2G + B (1)

The luminance signals generated by the luminance signal generation circuits 157 and 156 are sequentially read out along the Y direction in FIG.
Dimensional low-pass filter and other processing are performed by low-pass filter 1
FIG. 12 is a graph showing the results obtained at 59 and 158.
(B) The results are represented by the solid lines in the graphs A and B in (c).

Next, the low-pass filter circuits 159 and 15
8 are output to offset adding circuits 163 and 16 respectively.
2, the other inputs of the offset addition circuits 163 and 162 are connected to the output of the offset setting circuit 160.

In the initial state, the offset setting circuit 160
Is 0, and in this state, first, the offset adding circuit 16
The outputs of 3 and 162 are input to the correlation operation circuit 164 at the next stage, where the correlation operation is performed.

As a method of the correlation operation, for example, each luminance data of the block a located on the left side of the center boundary portion on the screen of the image pickup device 15 in FIG.
P = Σ | Ia (i) −Ib (i) | (2) where a (i) and each luminance data of the block b located on the right side are Ib (i).

It is assumed that this is calculated. The result of the correlation calculation is determined by the overall determination circuit 151, and when it is determined that the correlation is still insufficient, a predetermined offset amount is calculated by the offset setting circuit 160 and supplied to the offset addition circuits 162 and 163, respectively. I do.

For example, graphs A and (c) in FIG.
In the graph B, a plus (+) offset is added to Ia (i) and a minus (−) offset is added to Ib (i). The correlation calculation circuit 164 performs the correlation calculation again, and the result is determined by the overall determination circuit 151.

If it is determined that the correlation operation result is sufficient, it can be determined that the results of both outputs are quite consistent, and the output O of the offset setting circuit 160 set at this time is determined.
F1 and OF2 are connected to the offset adjustment circuit 11 shown in FIG.
1 and 110 to correct the imbalance between the two channel outputs of the image sensor 15.

On the other hand, low-pass filter circuits 159 and 15
8 are also input to the gain multiplication circuits 166 and 165, respectively, and the other inputs of the gain multiplication circuits 166 and 165 are connected to the output of the gain setting circuit 161.

In the initial state, the output of the gain setting circuit 161 is 1, and in this state, first, the gain multiplying circuit 166
The output of 165 is input to the correlation operation circuit 167 of the next stage, where the correlation operation is performed.

As a method of the correlation calculation here, for example, each luminance data of the block a located on the left side of the center boundary portion on the screen of the image sensor 15 in FIG.
P = ｉ | Ia (i) × Ib (i) | (3) where a (i) and each luminance data of the block b located on the right side are Ib (i).

The method of calculating the above can be considered as an example.
The result of the correlation calculation is determined by the overall determination circuit 151, and when it is determined that the correlation is still insufficient, predetermined gain amounts are calculated by the gain setting circuit 161 and supplied to the gain multiplication circuits.

If it is determined that the correlation calculation result is sufficient, it can be determined that the results of both outputs are quite consistent, and the output GN of the gain setting circuit 161 set at this time is determined.
1 and GN2 are connected to the gain adjustment circuits 113 and 11 of FIG.
2 to correct the imbalance between the two channel outputs of the image sensor 15.

The output signals GN1, GN2, OF1, OF related to the unbalance amount calculated by the above method.
2 is stored and held in a memory (not shown) mounted in the unbalance amount calculation circuit 116.

The method of correcting imbalance using the two types of signals (ratio and difference) relating to the amount of unbalance is described in the section of the pixel data output from the imaging device 15 which exists on the left half surface. The correlation between the average value of the data in the range and the data in a certain predetermined range existing on the right half surface is determined, and a predetermined offset amount or a gain amount is set accordingly. It is intended to correct imbalance between outputs. Therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment, only one of them may be selected to perform the imbalance adjustment.

In the sixth embodiment, the output after the luminance signal generating circuits 156 and 157 is subjected to the low-pass filter processing. Calculation method and more advanced condition judgment (for example, selecting a partial area)
A method of adjusting the amount of imbalance between the left and right by adding is considered.

Other configurations and the operation of the electronic camera are the first.
Since the third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

As described above, even when the configuration of the sixth embodiment is used, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Seventh Embodiment) Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The seventh embodiment differs from the first to sixth embodiments in the manner in which the image sensor is divided into regions.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of area division.
11A shows a structure in which reading from the image sensor is divided into upper and lower parts. The output of the upper half surface read from the image sensor 170 is transmitted via the CDS / AGC circuit 171 to the A / D conversion circuit 173. After that, the data is input to, for example, the memory controller 106 in FIG.

Similarly, the lower half output read from the image sensor 170 is output via the CDS / AGC circuit 172.
After being converted into digital data by the A / D conversion circuit 174, the data is input to, for example, the memory controller 108 in FIG.

In the image pickup device 170 shown in FIG. 13A, by arranging the calibration LED elements near the left and right divided portions, the left and right ends of the upper and lower portions are exposed to light. It is configured as follows.

(B) shows a structure in which the reading from the image sensor is divided into four parts (upper, lower, left and right).
A / D conversion circuit 18 via DS / AGC circuit 176
0, the data is converted into digital data.
Is input to the memory controller having the same function as that of the memory controllers 106 and 108 in.

The upper right 1/1 read from the image sensor 175
The 4-minute output is supplied to A through the CDS / AGC circuit 177.
After being converted into digital data by the / D conversion circuit 181, the data is similarly input to the memory controller.

The lower right 1/1 read from the image sensor 175
The output of 4 minutes is supplied to A through the CDS / AGC circuit 178.
After being converted into digital data by the / D conversion circuit 182, for example, the memory controller 10 shown in FIG.
Input to the memory controller of the same function as 6, 108. Similarly, the lower left 1/1 read from the image sensor 175
The output of 4 minutes is output to A through a CDS / AGC circuit 179.
After being converted into digital data by the / D conversion circuit 183, the data is similarly input to the memory controller.

At this time, the image sensor 17 shown in FIG.
In 5, the arrangement is such that the calibration LED elements are arranged in the vicinity of the four divided parts vertically and horizontally so that each of the four divided upper, lower, left and right boundaries is exposed to illumination. Further, in FIG.
Four parts of each divided part are illuminated,
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, two upper and lower calibration LED elements are used to illuminate the four-divided boundary located at the center of the image sensor 175 with the cover glass 15b and the filter member 18. May be configured.

Other configurations and the operation of the electronic camera are the first.
Since the third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

As described above, even when the configuration of the seventh embodiment is used, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.
The method of dividing the image sensor is not limited to the above,
Even when the image sensor is divided into three regions or five or more regions, the present invention can be easily applied by adding a processing circuit corresponding to each output system.

[0171]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the image pickup area of the image pickup device in the image pickup apparatus is divided into a plurality of image pickup areas and data is read out for each area, a plurality of The output level between the outputs can be automatically determined, and the signal difference between the plurality of outputs can be corrected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the electronic camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an image sensor and its periphery according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an illumination state of an imaging region of the imaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall system configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an unbalance amount calculation circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of an electronic camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view of an electronic camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an unbalance amount calculation circuit according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an unbalance amount calculation circuit according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the concept of output correction from an image sensor according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the imaging element according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a conventional camera system.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a reading principle of a conventional image sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 electronic still camera 2 photographing lens 3 imaging lens 4 lens driving device 5 aperture blade group 6 aperture driving device 7 main mirror 8 focusing screen 9 penta roof prism 10 eyepiece lens device 11 photometry device 12 sub mirror 13 focus detection device 14 shutter device 14a Blade group 15 Image sensor 15b Cover glass 16 Electric board 17a, 17b LED element 18 Filter member 101 TG / SSG 102, 103 CDS / AGC circuit 104, 105 A / D conversion circuit 106, 108 Memory controller 107, 109 Memory 110, 111 Offset adjustment circuit 112, 113 Gain adjustment circuit 114 Image synthesis circuit 115 Color processing circuit 116 Unbalance amount calculation circuit 117 CPU 118 Mode setting unit 119 Display / warning unit 20 Drivers 130, 131, 132 Average value calculation circuit 133 Area selection circuit 134, 135 Division circuit 136, 137 Subtraction circuit 138, 139, 140, 141 Correction data calculation circuit 143 Division circuit 144 Subtraction circuit 145, 146 Correction data calculation circuit 147 148. Fixed output 150 Timing generation circuit 151 Whole discrimination circuit 152, 153 Memory controller 154, 155 Memory 156, 157 Luminance signal generation circuit 158, 159 Low pass filter 160, 161 Offset setting circuit 162, 163 Offset addition circuit 164, 167 Correlation Operation circuit 165, 166 Gain multiplication circuit 170, 175 Image sensor 171, 172, 176 to 179 CDS / AGC circuit 173, 174, 180 to 183 A / D conversion circuit 19 Photodiode 191 vertical CCD 192 and 193 horizontal CCD 194, 195 amplifier 196, 198 CDS / AGC circuit 197 and 199 external adjustment means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) // H04N 101: 00 H04N 101: 00 F term (Reference) 2H054 AA01 BB11 2H081 AA29 AA48 5C022 AA13 AB12 AB17 AC42 AC52 AC69 5C024 CX06 CX39 CX54 EX34 EX51 GY04 HX21 HX28 HX29 HX30 HX58

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. An electric signal corresponding to an amount of incident light is generated,
An imaging unit having a plurality of divided imaging regions, and a plurality of output units that output the electric signals for each of the plurality of imaging regions; and a shutter unit that can freely open and block an incident optical path to the imaging unit; An imaging device, comprising: a light projecting unit that projects light onto at least a part of an imaging region of the imaging unit so as to straddle the plurality of imaging regions. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light projecting unit is arranged near the shutter unit and near a division boundary of an image pickup area of the image pickup unit. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light guide unit provided near the light projecting unit for guiding a light beam to an image pickup area of the image pickup unit. 4. An imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a part of said shutter means is used as said light guide means. 5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the shielding member of the shutter is used as a light guide. 6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an optical unit disposed between the shutter unit and the imaging unit is used as a light guiding unit. 7. The optical device according to claim 6, wherein the optical unit is a protection member for protecting an imaging area of the imaging unit.
Imaging device. 8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the optical unit is a low-pass filter. 9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine a correlation between the electric signals output from the plurality of output units. 10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a correction unit that corrects the electric signal based on the correlation. 11. A control means for controlling the shutter means so that an optical path incident on the image pickup means is in a shielded state, and controlling the light emitting means to emit light in the shielded state. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein 12. An image pickup unit that generates an electric signal corresponding to the amount of incident light, has a plurality of divided imaging regions, and has a plurality of output units that output the electric signals for each of the plurality of imaging regions. Determining means for determining a correlation between the electrical signals output from the plurality of output units, wherein the electrical signal is at least a part of the imaging region in a state where light is not incident on the imaging region. An imaging device including an electric signal generated by projecting light onto a region straddling the plurality of divided regions. 13. A plurality of processing means for processing the electric signal for each of a plurality of output units of the imaging means, wherein the determination means determines a predetermined image area with respect to an output from the processing means. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a correlation between the electric signals in the medium is determined. 14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a correction unit configured to correct the electric signal based on the correlation. 15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a combining unit that combines the electrical signals of the plurality of imaging regions corrected by the correction unit. 16. The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the electric signal is corrected using the correlation. 17. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the correlation is a ratio between the electric signals. 18. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the correlation is a difference between the electric signals. 19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising: a switching unit that switches the presence or absence of an operation of the determination unit; and a storage unit that retains the determined correlation when the operation of the determination unit is performed. 19. The imaging device according to any one of 9 to 18. 20. An imaging unit that generates an electric signal corresponding to the amount of incident light and has a plurality of divided imaging regions, and a plurality of output units that output the electric signals for each of the plurality of imaging regions. A control method for an image pickup apparatus, comprising: shutter means capable of opening and closing an optical path incident on an image pickup means; and light projecting means for projecting light onto at least a part of an image pickup area of the image pickup means so as to straddle the plurality of image pickup areas. A blocking step of blocking an incident optical path by the shutter means; a light emitting step of projecting light by the light emitting means in a blocked state; and the plurality of outputs obtained by the light projection in the light emitting step. A determining step of determining a correlation between the electric signals output from the unit. 21. An electric signal corresponding to the amount of incident light, which is obtained from an image pickup means having an image pickup area divided into a plurality of sections and a plurality of output sections for outputting the electric signals for each of the plurality of image pickup areas. A signal processing method for processing a signal, the method comprising: projecting light onto an area that is at least a part of the imaging area and straddles the plurality of divided areas in a state where light incidence on the imaging area is blocked. A signal processing method for determining a correlation between the electric signals output from the plurality of output units. 22. The image processing apparatus further comprising a processing step of processing the electric signal for each of a plurality of output units of the imaging unit.
22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the correlation between the electrical signals in a certain image area is determined. 23. The method according to claim 20, further comprising a correction step of correcting the electric signal based on the correlation. 24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising a synthesizing step of synthesizing the electric signals of the plurality of imaging regions corrected in the correcting step. 25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the correlation is used to correct the electrical signal. 26. The method according to claim 20, wherein the correlation is a ratio between the electric signals. 27. The method according to claim 20, wherein the correlation is a difference between the electric signals. 28. The apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising: a switching step of switching the presence or absence of the operation of the determination step; and a storage step of retaining the determined correlation when the operation of the determination step is performed. 28. The method according to any one of 20 to 27.