JP2003018451A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an excellent photographing environment to a photographer independently of a photographing object. SOLUTION: Even in carrying out a processing (skin color contour correction processing) to inactivate a contour correction function or to decrease emphasis of a contour part more than other areas as to an image signal included in particular hue area such as a skin color in the contour correction function (306-309), when a photographer can easily discriminate whether or not a focal state of an object is more proper with a more emphasized contour part such as manual adjustment of a focus (a switch 101 thrown to a position B), a signal not subjected to skin color contour correction processing is adopted for an image signal outputted to a panel 311 for confirming a photographed image (106, 107, 306).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device, and in particular, an optical signal from a subject incident through a lens is converted into an electric signal by an image pickup device, and the electric signal is subjected to signal processing to convert a video signal The present invention relates to an image pickup device.

The above image pickup device is, for example, a camera-integrated VT.
An image pickup device such as R.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a video camera or the like, in general, in order to obtain an image signal in which a contour portion of a subject is emphasized, a contour correction signal corresponding to the contour portion of the subject is used by using an image signal from an image sensor. It has a contour correction function for generating and adding it to the image signal. Such a contour correction function makes it possible to obtain a high-quality image with a high resolution and a sharp effect. However, when photographing a person's face, the contour of the person's skin is also corrected. As a result, wrinkles, spots, pores, etc. are emphasized, and the contour correction function sometimes brings about an unfavorable photographing result.

Therefore, for an image signal included in a specific hue region such as a flesh color, a so-called flesh color contour correction in which the contour correction function is invalidated or the enhancement of the contour portion is reduced compared to other areas is called There is a processing technique called skin detail.

These processing techniques will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a conventional image pickup apparatus for executing the skin color contour correction processing.

In FIG. 3, 301 is a lens, 302 is a diaphragm, 303 is an image sensor CCD, 304 is a sample hold circuit (S / H circuit), 305 is a preprocess circuit, 306 is a contour correction signal generation circuit, and 307. Is a first contour correction signal gain control circuit, 308 is a first image signal addition circuit, 309 is a specific hue detection circuit, 310 is a video signal output terminal, and 311 is a panel for confirming a captured image.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific hue detection area.

In FIG. 4, the vertical axis represents the color difference signal RY,
The horizontal axis represents the color difference signal BY, and the region C represents the specific hue region.

The light from the subject received by the lens 301 is adjusted in quantity by the diaphragm 302 and imaged on the surface of the CCD 203, photoelectrically converted by the CCD 303 and stored as an image signal. The image signal output from the CCD 303 is sample-held by the sample-hold circuit 304, and then supplied to the pre-process circuit 305 to undergo AGC processing, black balance processing, white balance processing, gamma correction processing, etc. Is supplied to the image signal adding circuit 308. On the other hand, the image signal output from the preprocessing circuit 305 is also supplied to the contour correction signal generation circuit 306 and the specific hue detection circuit 309.

The contour correction signal generation circuit 306 generates a contour correction signal corresponding to the contour portion of the input image signal and supplies it to the first contour correction signal gain control circuit 307. In the specific hue detection circuit 309, the preprocess circuit 3
Detecting an image signal included in a predetermined specific hue region (region C in FIG. 3) from the image signal supplied from 05,
Based on this detection result, a contour correction signal gain control signal is generated and supplied to the first contour correction signal gain control circuit 307.

First contour correction signal gain control circuit 307
Controls the gain of the contour correction signal supplied from the contour correction signal generation circuit 306 based on the contour correction signal gain control signal supplied from the specific hue detection circuit 309, and the contour-corrected signal after the gain control is 1 image signal adding circuit 30
Supply to 8.

The first image signal addition circuit 308 adds the image signal from the pre-processing circuit 305 and the contour correction signal from the first contour correction signal gain control circuit 307, and outputs the output terminal 310 and the panel 311. Supply to.
A video recording device, an external monitor, or the like is connected to the output terminal 310.

As described above, the gain of the contour correction signal is changed between the image signal included in the specific hue region C and the image signal included in the other regions, whereby the image included in the specific hue region C is changed. On the other hand, contour enhancement is not performed, and an image with contour correction appropriately performed according to the subject is obtained.

[0015]

However, when the area of the image in which the contour enhancement is not performed occupies a large area in the screen, for example, in a scene such as a face up, it is necessary to confirm the image to be captured on the viewfinder or the panel. When performing, there is a problem that it is difficult to determine whether or not the focus state of the subject is appropriate. Especially, when the focus is manually adjusted, this problem becomes apparent.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus which provides a good photographing environment to a photographer regardless of the subject to be photographed.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention of claim 1, the first focus adjustment mode in which the focus of the lens is automatically adjusted and the second focus adjustment mode in which the focus is manually adjusted.
And a focus adjustment unit that operates in one of the first and second focus adjustment modes according to an external setting, and a contour correction that performs a correction process of a contour portion in a captured image. Means and the focus correction means, the correction processing of the contour portion performed by the contour correction means is controlled according to the mode set in the focus adjustment means, and the image obtained by the correction processing is output to the display device for confirming the captured image. An image pickup apparatus is provided which has a control means.

According to the third aspect of the invention, an optical signal from a subject incident through the lens is converted into an electric signal by the image pickup device, and the electric signal is subjected to signal processing to generate a video signal. In the imaging device, the contour correction signal generating means for generating a contour correction signal applied to the contour portion of the image signal output from the image sensor, and a predetermined identification from the image signal output from the image sensor Specific hue detecting means for detecting an image signal in the hue region of the contour and outputting a contour correction signal gain control signal based on the detected image signal, and a gain of the contour correction signal generated by the contour correction signal generating means. Is controlled based on the contour correction signal gain control signal output from the specific hue detection means, and the first contour correction signal gain control means outputs the first contour correction signal gain control means. First image signal adding means for adding the contour correction signal to the image signal output from the image sensor, and second contour correction signal for controlling the gain of the contour correction signal generated by the contour correction signal generating means. Gain control means, second image signal addition means for adding the contour correction signal output from the second contour correction signal gain control means to the image signal output from the image sensor, and a photographed image for the photographer. An image signal for outputting to the image display means for confirming, one of a signal output from the first image signal adding means and a signal output from the second image signal adding means An image pickup apparatus is provided, which has a switching unit and a control unit that controls a switching operation of the image signal switching unit according to an operating state of the image pickup apparatus.

According to the invention described in claim 7, the optical signal from the subject incident through the lens is converted into an electric signal by the image pickup device, and the electric signal is subjected to signal processing to generate a video signal. In the imaging device, the contour correction signal generating means for generating a contour correction signal applied to the contour portion of the image signal output from the image sensor, and a predetermined identification from the image signal output from the image sensor Specific hue detecting means for detecting an image signal in the hue region of the contour and outputting a contour correction signal gain control signal based on the detected image signal, and a gain of the contour correction signal generated by the contour correction signal generating means. Is controlled based on the contour correction signal gain control signal output from the specific hue detection means, and the first contour correction signal gain control means outputs the first contour correction signal gain control means. When the contour correction signal gain control signal is sent from the first image signal adding means for adding the contour correction signal to the image signal output from the image sensor and the specific hue detection means, the contour correction signal generation is performed. Second contour correction signal gain control means for controlling the gain of the contour correction signal generated by the means based on the sent contour correction signal gain control signal, and image display means for allowing the photographer to confirm the photographed image. And a second image signal adding means for adding the contour correction signal output from the second contour correction signal gain control means to the image signal output from the image sensor and outputting the image signal to the image display means, ON / OFF of the contour correction signal gain control signal for outputting the contour correction signal gain control signal output from the specific hue detection means to the second contour correction signal gain control means or for cutting off the output. A full unit, an imaging apparatus is provided, characterized in that a control means for controlling the operation of the contour correction signal gain control signal on / off means in accordance with the operation state of the imaging device.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those of the configuration of the conventional image pickup apparatus shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, 101 is an image signal changeover switch, 102 is an image signal changeover control circuit, and 103.
Is a focus adjustment unit, 104 is a focus adjustment mode selection switch (AF / MF switch), 105 is a dial for manual focus adjustment, 106 is a second contour correction signal gain control circuit, and 107 is a second image signal addition circuit. is there.

The contour correction signal generated by the contour correction signal generation circuit 306 is the first contour correction signal gain control circuit 307.
And the second contour correction signal gain control circuit 106. The second contour correction signal gain control circuit 106 controls the gain of the contour correction signal supplied from the contour correction signal generation circuit 306, and outputs the gain-controlled contour correction signal to the second image signal addition circuit 107. Supply. In the second image signal addition circuit 107, the image signal from the pre-processing circuit 305 and the contour correction signal from the second contour correction signal gain control circuit 106 are added and supplied to the switch B side of the image changeover switch 101. To do. The output of the first image signal addition circuit 308 is supplied to the output terminal 310 and is also supplied to the switch A side of the image changeover switch 101.

The focus adjustment unit 103 displays "automatic (A
F) ”and“ manual (MF) ”adjustment modes. The adjustment mode can be switched by the photographer's focus adjustment mode selection switch (AF / MF switch) 104.
The operation is performed. When “automatic” is selected by the focus adjustment mode selection switch 104, the focus adjustment mode of the focus adjustment unit 103 becomes “automatic”, and the focus adjustment unit 103 is based on the image information from the preprocess circuit 305. , The lens 2 so that the focus state for the subject to be photographed becomes appropriate.
Drive 01.

On the other hand, when “manual” is selected by the focus adjustment mode selection switch 104, the focus adjustment mode of the focus adjustment unit 103 becomes “manual”, and the focus is manually adjusted according to the operation of the dial 105. Is done. That is, when the focus adjustment mode of the focus adjustment unit 103 is “manual”, the focus adjustment unit 103 drives the lens 201 according to the operation state (rotational direction) of the dial 105 when the dial 105 is operated by the photographer. Then, the focus signal is adjusted to the closest or infinite direction, and at the same time, a signal indicating that the focus is manually adjusted is generated, and the image signal switching control circuit 10
Output to 2. This signal is output only while the focus is being adjusted manually.

The image signal switching control circuit 102 generates an image signal switching control signal in accordance with the signal received from the focus adjusting section 103, and the image switching switch 1
Output to 01. That is, when the image signal switching control circuit 102 receives from the focus adjustment unit 103 a signal indicating that the focus manual adjustment is being performed, the output signal of the second image signal addition circuit 107 (switch B
The image signal switching control signal for controlling the switching of the image switching switch 101 so as to output the (side) to the panel 311 is output. When the signal indicating that the manual focus adjustment is being performed is not received, the image changeover switch 101 is controlled to be changed so as to output the output signal (on the switch A side) of the first image signal addition circuit 308 to the panel 311. Output an image signal switching control signal.

The image changeover switch 101 switches the switch to the A side or the B side according to the image signal changeover control signal sent from the image signal changeover control circuit 102 to output the output signal of the first image signal addition circuit 308 (switch A side) and the second image signal addition circuit 107
Of the output signal of the panel 31 (switch B side).
Output to 1.

The image signal supplied to the output terminal 310 is always a signal after the contour correction signal from the first contour correction signal gain control circuit 307 is added by the first image signal addition circuit 308.

As described above, in the first embodiment, when the focus is automatically controlled, or even when the focus can be manually controlled, it is not in the middle of being manually adjusted by the photographer. Is a specific hue detection circuit 30.
The image signal in which the contour portion of the subject is corrected based on the contour correction signal gain control signal from 8 is output to the panel 311 for confirming the captured image, while the focus can be manually controlled, and While the manual adjustment is being performed by the photographer, the image signal in which the contour portion of the subject is corrected without being influenced by the contour correction signal gain control signal from the specific hue detection circuit 308 is displayed on the panel. It is output to 311.

In the first embodiment, when the photographer operates the dial 105, the focus adjusting section 103 generates a signal indicating that the focus is being manually adjusted, and the image signal switching control circuit is generated. However, instead of this, the focus adjustment unit 103
However, a signal indicating that the focus is being manually adjusted is generated for a predetermined period even after the photographer operates the dial 105, and the signal is continuously output to the image signal switching control circuit 102,
The photographer may be more sure to confirm the photographed image.

In the first embodiment, the adjustment mode of the focus adjustment section 103 is switched by the operator operating the focus adjustment mode selection switch 104. When the focus adjustment mode is "automatic", the dial 105 is used. However, if the dial 105 is operated by the photographer even when the focus adjustment mode is “automatic”, the dial 1
The adjustment mode is "manual" only while 05 is operated.
You may make it switch to.

Further, in order to inform the photographer whether the image changeover switch 101 is switched to the A side or the B side, the image changeover switch 1
The information about 01 may be displayed on the panel 311 or the like.

(Second Embodiment) Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention. The configuration of the second embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the figure, the same reference numerals are attached to the same components as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The description is omitted.

In FIG. 2, 201 is a contour correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF switch, and 202 is a contour correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF control circuit.

When the adjustment mode of the focus adjustment unit 103 is "manual", the focus adjustment unit 103 operates the dial 105 when the photographer operates the dial 105.
The lens 201 is driven according to the operation state (rotational direction) of the, the focus is adjusted to the closest or infinity direction, and a signal indicating that the focus is manually adjusted is generated to generate the contour correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF control. Circuit 202
Output to.

The contour correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF control circuit 202 generates a contour correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF control signal according to the signal received from the focus adjustment unit 103, and the contour correction signal gain control signal ON It is output to the ON / OFF switch 201. That is, when the contour correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF control circuit 202 receives a signal indicating that the focus manual adjustment is being performed from the focus adjustment unit 103, the second hue correction signal gain from the specific hue detection circuit 309 is received. It outputs a contour correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF control signal that cuts off the contour correction signal gain control signal output to the control circuit 106. When the signal indicating that the manual focus adjustment is being performed is not received, the contour for controlling the contour correction signal gain control signal output from the specific hue detection circuit 309 to the second contour correction signal gain control circuit 106 is conducted. The correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF control signal is output.

The contour correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF switch 201, in accordance with the contour correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF control signal sent from the contour correction signal gain control signal ON / OFF control circuit 202, detects a specific hue detection circuit 309. The contour correction signal gain control signal sent from the second contour correction signal gain control circuit 106 is output or cut off to the second contour correction signal gain control circuit 106.

As described above, also in the second embodiment, when the focus is automatically controlled, or even when the focus can be manually controlled, it is not during the manual adjustment by the photographer. Is a specific hue detection circuit 30.
The image signal in which the contour portion of the subject is corrected based on the contour correction signal gain control signal from 8 is output to the panel 311 for confirming the captured image, while the focus can be manually controlled, and While the manual adjustment is being performed by the photographer, the image signal in which the contour portion of the subject is corrected without being influenced by the contour correction signal gain control signal from the specific hue detection circuit 308 is displayed on the panel. It is output to 311.

In the second embodiment, when the photographer operates the dial 105, the focus adjustment unit 103 generates a signal indicating that the focus is being manually adjusted, and the contour correction signal gain control is performed. The signal is output to the signal on / off control circuit 202, but instead of this, the focus adjustment unit 103 generates a signal indicating that the focus is manually adjusted for a predetermined period even after the photographer operates the dial 105. However, the contour correction signal gain control signal may be continuously output to the on / off control circuit 202 so that the photographer can more surely confirm the photographed image.

In the second embodiment, the adjustment mode of the focus adjustment unit 103 is switched by the photographer operating the focus adjustment mode selection switch 104. When the focus adjustment mode is "automatic", the dial 105 is used. However, if the dial 105 is operated by the photographer even when the focus adjustment mode is “automatic”, the dial 1
The adjustment mode is "manual" only while 05 is operated.
You may make it switch to.

[0042]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in the contour correction function, the contour correction function is invalidated or the contour portion is emphasized in another area for image signals included in a specific hue area such as a skin color. Even when performing processing to reduce the color further (flesh color contour correction processing), whether the focus state of the subject is proper or not is emphasized when the contour portion is emphasized as in the case of manually adjusting the focus. When the photographer can easily make the determination, the image signal to be output to the panel for confirming the captured image is a signal that has not been subjected to the flesh color contour correction processing.

As a result, regardless of the subject to be photographed,
Moreover, it is possible to always provide the photographer with a good photographing environment without giving any change to the output for video recording or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus that executes conventional skin color contour correction processing.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific hue detection area.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Image signal changeover switch (control means, image signal changeover means) 102 ... Image signal changeover control circuit (control means) 103 ... Focus adjustment section (focus adjustment means, control means) 104 ... Focus adjustment mode selection switch 105 ... Dial 106 Second contour correction signal gain control circuit (contour correction means, second contour correction signal gain control means) 107 Second image signal addition circuit (contour correction means,
Second image signal adding means) 201 ... Contour correction signal gain control signal on / off switch (contour correction signal gain control signal on / off means) 202 ... Contour correction signal gain control signal on / off control circuit (control means) 301 ... lens 302 ... diaphragm 303 ... CCD (imaging element) 304 ... sample hold circuit 305 ... pre-process circuit 306 ... contour correction signal generation circuit (contour correction means, contour correction signal generation means) 307 ... first contour correction signal gain control Circuit (contour correction means, first contour correction signal gain control means) 308 ... First image signal addition circuit (contour correction means,
First image signal adding means) 309 ... Specific hue detection circuit (outline correction means, specific hue detection means) 310 ... Output terminal 311 ... Panel (display device, image display means)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/208 G02B 7/11 Z 5C066 5/225 G03B 3/00 A 9/68 103 Z F term (reference) ) 2H011 AA04 CA18 DA00 DA05 2H051 AA08 FA29 GB15 GB20 2H102 AB11 5C021 PA17 PA52 PA58 PA62 PA66 RA02 XA03 XA13 XB03 5C022 AA13 AB19 AB20 AB21 AB22 AB28 AB29 AC12 AC42 AC54 AC74 AC79 5C066 AA01 CA03 EB03

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A first focus adjustment mode for automatically adjusting the focus of a lens and a second focus adjustment mode for manual adjustment, wherein the first and second focus adjustment modes are set according to an external setting. A focus adjustment unit that operates in one of the modes; a contour correction unit that corrects the contour portion in the captured image; and a contour portion that is performed by the contour correction unit according to the mode set in the focus adjustment unit. And a control unit for controlling the correction process of 1. and outputting the image obtained by the correction process to a display device for confirming a captured image. 2. The control means, when the focus adjusting means is set to the second focus adjusting mode, carries out a correction process which is performed by the contour correcting means and which changes a degree of contour correction according to a subject. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup apparatus is not executed. 3. An image pickup apparatus for converting an optical signal from a subject incident through a lens into an electric signal by an image pickup element and subjecting the electric signal to signal processing to generate a video signal, the image pickup element outputting the image signal. A contour correction signal generation unit that generates a contour correction signal applied to the contour portion of the generated image signal, and an image signal in a predetermined specific hue region is detected from the image signal output from the image sensor. A specific hue detection unit that outputs a contour correction signal gain control signal based on the detected image signal; and a gain of the contour correction signal generated by the contour correction signal generation unit, which is output from the specific hue detection unit. And a contour correction signal output from the first contour correction signal gain control means for controlling based on the contour correction signal gain control signal. First image signal addition means for adding to the image signal output from the second contour correction signal, second contour correction signal gain control means for controlling the gain of the contour correction signal generated by the contour correction signal generation means, and the second Second image signal adding means for adding the contour correction signal output from the contour correction signal gain control means to the image signal output from the image sensor, and image display means for allowing the photographer to confirm the photographed image. An image signal switching unit that outputs one of a signal output from the first image signal addition unit and a signal output from the second image signal addition unit to the image display unit; An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a switching operation of the image signal switching unit according to an operating state. 4. A lens focus adjustment mode is provided with at least two modes, an automatic mode and a manual mode, wherein the control means selects the manual focus adjustment mode and is performing focus adjustment of the lens. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image signal switching unit causes the image display unit to output the signal output from the second image signal adding unit. 5. A lens focus adjustment mode is provided with at least two modes, automatic and manual modes, wherein the control means selects the manual focus adjustment mode and performs focus adjustment of the lens. The image display means outputs the signal output from the second image signal addition means to the image signal switching means for a period during which the focus adjustment is performed and a predetermined time after the focus adjustment is completed. The image pickup device according to claim 3, wherein the image pickup device is output. 6. The control means causes the image signal switching means to output the signal output from the second image signal adding means to the image display means, at least when the focus adjustment of the lens is performed. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 7. An image pickup apparatus for converting an optical signal from a subject incident through a lens into an electric signal by an image pickup element and subjecting the electric signal to signal processing to generate a video signal, which is output from the image pickup element. A contour correction signal generation unit that generates a contour correction signal applied to the contour portion of the generated image signal, and an image signal in a predetermined specific hue region is detected from the image signal output from the image sensor. A specific hue detection unit that outputs a contour correction signal gain control signal based on the detected image signal; and a gain of the contour correction signal generated by the contour correction signal generation unit, which is output from the specific hue detection unit. And a contour correction signal output from the first contour correction signal gain control means for controlling based on the contour correction signal gain control signal. First image signal adding means for adding to the image signal output from the contour correction signal gain control signal from the specific hue detecting means, and the contour correction signal generated by the contour correction signal generating means. Second contour correction signal gain control means for controlling the gain of the image on the basis of the sent contour correction signal gain control signal, image display means for allowing a photographer to confirm a photographed image, and the second contour correction A second image signal addition means for adding the contour correction signal output from the signal gain control means to the image signal output from the image pickup device and outputting the image signal to the image display means, and the specific hue detection means. A contour correction signal gain control signal on / off means for outputting a contour correction signal gain control signal to the second contour correction signal gain control means, or for cutting off the output; Imaging apparatus characterized by a control means for controlling the operation of the contour correction signal gain control signal on / off means in response to the state. 8. A lens focus adjustment mode is provided with at least two modes, an automatic mode and a manual mode, wherein the control means selects the manual focus adjustment mode and performs the lens focus adjustment. 8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the contour correction signal gain control signal on / off means is caused to cut off the output. 9. A lens focus adjustment mode is provided with at least two modes, an automatic mode and a manual mode, wherein the control means selects the manual focus adjustment mode and performs focus adjustment of the lens. The contour correction signal gain control signal on / off means is caused to cut off the output during a period during which the focus adjustment is performed and a predetermined time after the focus adjustment is completed. Item 7. The image pickup device according to item 7. 10. The control means causes the contour correction signal gain control signal on / off means to cut off the output at least when focus adjustment of the lens is performed. Imaging device.