JP2006054927A - Shading correction method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image input apparatus which selects shading correction data, depending on a f-stop value, zoom position, and lens type, to perform shading correction, depending on a captured scene. <P>SOLUTION: Shading correction data is selected by switching outputs of a ROM data switching section 110 based on a control signal output from an optical lens 101, and shading correction corresponding to a position in an image is performed by the multiplication operation of a digital signal. Also, the shading correction data can be subjected to computation in a CPU so that new shading correction can be performed. In addition, by providing the shading correction data for each color signal of a CCD the shading correction having a reduced false color can be performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a shading correction method for correcting a shading characteristic of a lens of an image input device that has an optical lens such as an electronic still camera or a video camera and obtains a video signal.

  Conventionally, this type of image input device includes, for example, an electronic still camera that records a still image on a storage medium such as a memory card.

  As shown in FIG. 6, this electronic still camera includes an optical lens 601 in which a shading correction coefficient is stored, a CCD 602 as an imaging device for performing photoelectric conversion to obtain an imaging signal, correlated double sampling, signal amplification, and the like. Analog signal processing 603 for performing image processing, an A / D converter 604 for converting an imaging signal into a digital signal, and a digital signal for obtaining an image signal by synchronizing the imaging signal obtained from the CCD 602 for each color signal A processing 605, a drive circuit 606 for generating a pulse for driving the CCD 602, and a reference voltage calculation circuit 607 for converting a shading correction coefficient read from the optical lens 601 into a reference voltage of the A / D converter 604. And an A / D converter that converts the digital signal output from the reference voltage calculation circuit 607 into an analog quantity. And a memory card 609 for storing a video signal obtained by digital signal processing, and is supplied to the optical lens 601 by an address signal generated from the drive circuit 606. The stored shading correction coefficient is read, the reference voltage applied to the A / D converter 604 is calculated by the reference voltage calculation circuit 607, and the reference voltage is applied to the A / D converter 604 as an analog quantity to perform shading correction. .

That is, shading correction is performed by changing the input dynamic range of the imaging signal input to the A / D converter 604 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-6-197266

  However, in such an image input device, the amount of light input through the optical lens 601 is obtained from the CCD 602 to correct the shading characteristic that the amount of light becomes darker as the distance from the center of the lens and the center thereof becomes larger. Since the configuration is such that shading correction is performed by changing the reference voltage of the A / D converter 604 that converts the imaging signal into a digital signal as an analog quantity and changing the input dynamic range, the output is output from the D / A converter 608. In an image input device that requires stable time for the reference voltage to stabilize, the A / D converter 604 to operate stably and time for appropriate digital conversion, and that performs high-speed digital conversion as the number of pixels of the CCD 602 increases, High-precision shading correction can be realized without high-speed and stable digital conversion. There.

  Further, since the reference voltage of the A / D converter 604 is changed by an analog amount, an error of the reference voltage is generated due to variations in the D / A converter 608, and thus there is a problem that a difference occurs in shading correction for each image input device. was there.

  In addition, if a certain shading correction data is multiplied by an image pickup signal corresponding to a different color filter arranged in the image pickup device, the correlation with the image pickup signal corresponding to a different color filter adjacent to the periphery is lost, and the image pickup is performed. There was a problem that the color modulation was performed on the signal, and a pseudo color was generated.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a shading correction method for an image input apparatus capable of performing high-speed and accurate shading correction.

  In addition, the present invention provides a shading correction method capable of reducing the occurrence of false colors by multiplying an imaging signal output from a CCD by shading correction data corresponding to different adjacent color filters. Is.

  According to the first shading method of the present invention, an optical lens that can output one or a plurality of control signals of an aperture value, a zoom position, and a lens type, and a photoelectric conversion element that performs photoelectric conversion are two-dimensionally arranged. A single-plate image sensor in which color filters of different colors are arranged on the photoelectric conversion element, drive pulse generating means for generating a pulse for driving the image sensor, and an analog of the image signal output from the image sensor A shading correction method for an image input device, comprising: a signal conversion unit that performs digital conversion; and a signal processing unit that obtains a video signal by synchronizing the imaging signal output from the imaging element for each of different color signals. , Storing shading correction data corresponding to one or more of the aperture value, zoom position, and lens type of the optical lens in the recording means The shading correction data is selected by the switching means according to the control signal output from the optical lens, and the imaging signal converted into the digital signal by the signal converting means is multiplied with the shading correction data selected by the switching means. It is.

  With such a configuration, even if the shading correction data recorded in the recording means is switched by the control signal obtained from the optical lens, and the aperture value, zoom position, and lens type of the optical lens are changed, the optimum The shading correction of the imaging optical system is automatically performed. Furthermore, by performing digital computation that multiplies the image signal that has been digitally converted by the shading correction data as means for performing shading correction, variations in devices such as D / A converters do not occur, and changes over time do not occur. High-speed and accurate shading correction can be performed, and can be easily developed in LSI.

  According to the second shading method of the present invention, an optical lens that can output one or a plurality of control signals of an aperture value, a zoom position, and a lens type, and a photoelectric conversion element that performs photoelectric conversion are two-dimensionally arranged. A single-plate image sensor in which color filters of different colors are arranged on the photoelectric conversion element, drive pulse generating means for generating a pulse for driving the image sensor, and an analog of the image signal output from the image sensor A shading correction method for an image input device, comprising: a signal conversion unit that performs digital conversion; and a signal processing unit that obtains a video signal by synchronizing an imaging signal output from an imaging element for each of different color signals, Recording that can rewrite shading correction data corresponding to one or more of the aperture value, zoom position, and lens type of the optical lens An optical lens by a CPU that can obtain shading correction data of an imaging optical system by calculation when multiplying an image signal stored in a stage and converted into a digital signal by a signal conversion means with shading correction data recorded in a recording means The shading correction data suitable for the imaging optical system is written to the recording means by the control signal obtained from the above.

  With such a configuration, the shading correction data is calculated by the CPU, written to a rewritable recording means such as RAM, and the shading correction data is read according to the imaging signal read from the CCD, and the imaging signal is A / D converted. By performing the shading correction by multiplying the digital signal after the correction, it is possible to perform a high-speed and accurate shading correction. Further, it is possible to provide an image input apparatus that can perform shading correction such as backlight correction or shooting according to illuminance according to the scene of the subject by configuring the program calculated by the CPU from the outside. it can.

  According to the third shading method of the present invention, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are optical lenses obtained by converting a plurality of imaging signals obtained from a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements in which color filters corresponding to the respective shading filters are arranged into digital values. A shading correction method for correcting a shading characteristic of a lens by multiplying shading correction data corresponding to each of the positions arranged with respect to each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, wherein a specific photoelectric conversion element is arranged A step (a) of reading out the shading correction data corresponding to the determined position from a storage device preliminarily stored, and the shading correction data corresponding to the specific photoelectric conversion element obtained in the step (a) A step (b) of correcting with a coefficient corresponding to the first color information of the color filter arranged on the photoelectric conversion element; The shading correction data corresponding to the specific photoelectric conversion element obtained in (a) is added to the second color information of the color filter arranged on the first photoelectric conversion element adjacent to the specific photoelectric conversion element. Step (c) for correcting with a corresponding coefficient, and a product obtained by converting the imaging signal obtained from the specific photoelectric conversion element into a digital value is multiplied by the corrected shading correction data obtained in step (b). A step of calculating (d) and a step of multiplying the image signal obtained from the first photoelectric conversion element converted into a digital value by the corrected shading correction data obtained in the step (c) ( e) and the first imaging data after the multiplication operation obtained in the step (d) and the multiplication operation obtained in the step (e) with respect to the position where the specific photoelectric conversion element is disposed. Second shot of It is characterized in that it comprises a step (f) of simultaneously the color information by using the data.

  With such a configuration, the shading correction data to be multiplied to the image pickup signals corresponding to the different color filters arranged in the image pickup device is corrected in advance by the coefficient corresponding to the color information of each color filter. It is possible to suppress color generation and perform good shading correction.

  In the third shading method of the present invention, the shading correction data corresponding to the specific photoelectric conversion element obtained in the step (a) is adjacent to the specific photoelectric conversion element and the first photoelectric conversion element. A step (g) of performing correction with a coefficient corresponding to the third color information of the color filter arranged on the second photoelectric conversion element different from the above, and an imaging signal obtained from the second photoelectric conversion element as a digital value And the step (h) of multiplying the shading correction data after correction obtained in the step (g) with the one obtained by converting the first imaging data and the second in the step (f). Color information may be synchronized using the third imaging data after the multiplication operation obtained in the step (h) in addition to the imaging data.

  In the third shading method of the present invention, the third color information may be different from the first color information and the second color information, and the first color information, The second color information and the third color information may correspond to any one of red, green, and blue, or the first color information, the second color information, and the first color information. The color information 3 can correspond to any one of magenta, yellow, cyan, and white.

  According to the first shading correction method of the present invention, the shading correction data recorded in the recording means is switched by the control signal obtained from the optical lens, and the aperture value, zoom position, and lens type of the optical lens are changed. However, the optimum shading correction of the imaging optical system is automatically performed. Furthermore, by performing digital computation that multiplies the image signal that has been digitally converted by the shading correction data as means for performing shading correction, variations in devices such as D / A converters do not occur, and changes over time do not occur. High-speed and accurate shading correction can be performed, and can be easily developed in LSI.

  According to the second shading correction method of the present invention, the shading correction data is calculated by the CPU, written to a rewritable recording means such as RAM, and the shading correction data is read in accordance with the imaging signal read from the CCD, and the imaging signal Is multiplied by the digital signal after A / D conversion to perform shading correction, so that high-speed and accurate shading correction can be performed. Further, it is possible to provide an image input apparatus that can perform shading correction such as backlight correction or shooting according to illuminance according to the scene of the subject by configuring the program calculated by the CPU from the outside. it can.

  According to the third shading correction method of the present invention, the shading correction data to be multiplied to the imaging signals corresponding to the different color filters arranged in the imaging device is corrected in advance with the coefficient corresponding to the color information of each color filter. As a result, generation of pseudo colors can be suppressed and good shading correction can be performed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image input apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is an optical lens 101 that can output one or a plurality of control signals of an aperture value, a zoom position, and a lens type. As a result, a subject image is formed on the CCD 102. The CCD 102 is a single-plate image pickup device in which photoelectric conversion elements that perform photoelectric conversion are two-dimensionally arranged and color filters of different colors are arranged on the photoelectric conversion elements. The CCD 102 is driven by a drive signal generated by the CCD drive pulse generator 105. Read the imaging signal of the CCD 102. After the image signal is subjected to correlated double sampling and signal amplification by the analog signal processing circuit 103, the image signal output from the analog signal processing circuit 103 is converted to a digital signal by the A / D converter 104 which is a signal conversion means. Then, the shading correction data and the multiplication operation are performed by the multiplier 111 which is an operation means. The imaging signal subjected to shading correction is input to a digital signal processing circuit 112 for obtaining a video signal by synchronizing different color signals, and a video signal is obtained from a video signal output 113.

  In order to read the shading correction data corresponding to the screen position, the address generator 106 generates an address synchronized with the driving pulse output from the CCD driving pulse generator 105, and the aperture value and zoom position are read out. Then, the shading correction data corresponding to the lens type is read from ROM 107, ROM 108, and ROM 109, which are recording means stored in advance. In order to select the optimum shading correction data according to the control signal from the optical lens 101, switching is performed by the ROM data switch 110 and input to the multiplier 111, and the shading correction is performed by multiplying the imaging signal which is a digital signal. . The ROM 107, ROM 108, and ROM 109 for storing shading correction data may not be ROM as long as they can be selected by a control signal output from the optical lens 101.

  Here, the shading correction is to correct a shading characteristic in which the signal level decreases as the distance from the center portion increases with respect to the imaging signal level near the center portion of the optical lens 101 as shown in FIG. The pre-shading correction CCD signal 501 read from the CCD 102 is multiplied by the shading correction data 502 stored in the ROM in advance by the multiplier 111, and as if the CCD signal 503 after the shading correction is as if Correction is performed so that parallel light enters the image sensor.

  As described above, the image input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention determines the type of shading correction data based on the aperture value, zoom position, and lens type control signals output from the optical lens 101. Select, detect the position of the screen by the address synchronized with the CCD drive pulse, and perform the shading correction by calculating with the imaging signal in the multiplier 111, so that there is no variation in elements or change with time, and high speed Stable and accurate shading correction can be performed.

  FIG. 2 shows an image input apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment in that it replaces the ROMs 107 to 109 and the ROM data switching unit 110 and has an aperture value. RAM 208 as rewritable recording means for storing shading correction data corresponding to one or more conditions of zoom position and lens type, and shading correction data of the imaging optical system can be obtained by calculation. The difference is that a CPU 206 that writes shading correction data suitable for the imaging optical system to the RAM 208 by a control signal obtained from the optical lens 201 is provided. The CPU 206 has a program for calculating shading correction data in accordance with a control signal from the optical lens 201, and further has a program input 212 for inputting a program from the outside, and can use a program according to the scene of the subject. The program for calculating shading correction data can be freely replaced.

  In this image input device, shading correction is performed by storing shading correction data corresponding to one or more of the aperture value, zoom position, and lens type of the optical lens in the RAM 208, and digitally converting the data by the A / D converter 204. When the imaging signal converted into the signal is multiplied by the shading correction data recorded in the RAM 208, the imaging optical system can be obtained by the control signal obtained from the optical lens 201 by the CPU 206 that can obtain the shading correction data of the imaging optical system by calculation. Is stored in the RAM 208.

  In the figure, 202 is a CCD, 203 is an analog signal processing circuit, 204 is an A / D converter, 205 is a CCD drive pulse generator, 207 is an address generator, 209 is a multiplier, 210 is a digital signal processing circuit, Reference numeral 211 denotes a video signal, which is the same as in the first embodiment.

  According to the second embodiment, the shading correction data is calculated by the CPU 206, written to a rewritable recording means, for example, the RAM 208, the shading correction data is read in accordance with the imaging signal read from the CCD 202, and the imaging signal is converted to A / A. By performing shading correction by multiplying the digital signal after D conversion, high-speed and accurate shading correction can be performed. In addition, by adopting a configuration in which the program calculated by the CPU 206 can be changed from the outside, it is possible to perform shading correction according to the subject scene, for example, backlight correction or shooting according to illuminance, and adopt a new type of optical lens. Even in this case, the program for calculating the shading correction data can be updated, so that a flexible response is possible.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the imaging signals output from the CCDs 102 and 202 are converted into digital signals, and the shading correction is performed by performing multiplication operations. The units 111 and 209 may be constituted by an adder. Further, the same effect can be obtained by performing shading correction on the imaging signals output from the CCDs 102 and 202 after, for example, performing signal processing to be synchronized.

  A shading correction method applied to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the CCD 102 (or 202) corresponding to the image pickup element. Different color filters are arranged on the photoelectric conversion element, 301 is a photoelectric conversion element in which a red filter is arranged, and 302 is a green filter. 303 is a photoelectric conversion element 303 in which a blue filter is arranged. The photoelectrically converted imaging signal is transferred to the vertical CCD 304, transferred to the horizontal CCD 305, and further transferred at a high speed by the horizontal CCD. Then, it is amplified by the output amplifier 306, and an image pickup signal is output from the CCD output 307.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the imaging signal 401 output from the CCD 102 is output as a dot-sequential signal of different color signals such as an RG line 402 and a GB line 403 for each line. In order to convert the signal output from the CCD 102 into a video signal that can be used for video or the like, it is necessary to synchronize each color information. For example, the position of the imaging signal in which the green (first color information) filter is arranged is obtained by converting the imaging signal in which the filters of different colors adjacent to each other vertically, horizontally, and diagonally are converted into digital values. Then, signal interpolation is performed to generate color signals corresponding to blue (second color information) and red (third color information). At this time, if the ratio of the red and blue color signals is not the same as the ratio of the red and blue color signals originally incident on the green color filter, a pseudo color is generated. Therefore, the shading correction data is adjusted in advance by correcting the position of the imaging signal where the green (first color information) filter is arranged with a different coefficient for each color information of the color filter. Thus, for example, the shading correction is performed by the image input device shown in the first embodiment or the second embodiment. As a result, for example, even in the case where the red, blue, and green color information is synchronized using the image signals corresponding to the surrounding red and blue color information in a place where only the image signal corresponding to the green color information is present. Shading correction that does not generate false colors can be performed.

  That is, this shading correction method synchronizes color signals with the step of calculating shading correction data corresponding to different color filters that are arranged at different positions with respect to the optical lens of the image pickup signal obtained by the image sensor. And adjusting the shading correction data by correcting in advance with coefficients corresponding to the color information of the respective color filters so as not to generate a pseudo color, and multiplying the imaging signal by the shading correction data. .

  In this way, the shading correction data for multiplying the image signal corresponding to the different color filter arranged in the image sensor converted into the digital value is corrected in advance with the coefficient corresponding to the color information of each color filter. Thus, the generation of pseudo colors can be suppressed and good shading correction can be performed.

  In the above embodiment, the color filters arranged on the CCD are red, green, and blue. However, color filters such as magenta, yellow, cyan, and white may be used.

  According to the shading correction method of the present invention, the shading correction data to be multiplied to the image pickup signals corresponding to the different color filters arranged in the image sensor is corrected in advance by the coefficient corresponding to the color information of each color filter. Because it suppresses the generation of pseudo colors and enables good shading correction, it has an optical lens such as an electronic still camera or a video camera, and the shading characteristics of the lens of the image input device for obtaining a video signal. This is useful as a shading correction method for correcting.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an image input apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the image input device of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of CCD for demonstrating the shading correction method of 3rd Embodiment. It is a signal waveform diagram for demonstrating the shading correction method of 3rd Embodiment. It is a signal waveform diagram explaining the shading correction of the image input apparatus of 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the image input device of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

101 Optical lens 102 CCD
103 Analog signal processing 104 A / D converter 105 CCD drive pulse generator 106 Address generator 107, 108, 109 ROM
110 ROM data switching device 111 Multiplier 112 Digital signal device 113 Video signal output 201 Optical lens 202 CCD
203 Analog signal processing 204 A / D converter 205 CCD drive pulse generator 206 CPU
207 Address generator 208 RAM
209 Multiplier 210 Digital signal device 211 Video signal output 212 Program input 301 Photoelectric conversion element with a red filter 302 Photoelectric conversion element with a green filter 303 Photoelectric conversion element with a blue filter 304 Vertical CCD
305 Horizontal CCD
306 Output amplifier 307 CCD output 401 Imaging signal 402 RG line 403 GB line 501 CCD signal before shading correction 502 Shading correction data 503 CCD signal after shading correction 601 Optical lens 602 CCD
603 Analog signal processing 604 A / D converter 605 Digital signal processing 606 Drive circuit 607 Reference voltage calculation circuit 608 D / A converter 609 Memory card

Claims (5)

Each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements converted to digital values obtained by converting a plurality of imaging signals obtained from a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements having corresponding color filters to the respective positions corresponding to the positions where the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged with respect to the optical lens A shading correction method for correcting the shading characteristics of a lens by multiplying the shading correction data,
A step (a) of reading out a shading correction data corresponding to a position where a specific photoelectric conversion element is arranged among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements from a storage device storing in advance;
The shading correction data corresponding to the specific photoelectric conversion element obtained in the step (a) is corrected with a coefficient corresponding to the first color information of the color filter arranged on the specific photoelectric conversion element. Step (b);
The second color of the color filter arranged on the first photoelectric conversion element adjacent to the specific photoelectric conversion element in the shading correction data corresponding to the specific photoelectric conversion element obtained in the step (a). A step (c) of correcting with a coefficient corresponding to the information;
A step (d) of multiplying the image signal obtained from the specific photoelectric conversion element into a digital value and the corrected shading correction data obtained in the step (b);
A step (e) of multiplying the image signal obtained from the first photoelectric conversion element converted into a digital value by the corrected shading correction data obtained in the step (c);
For the position where the specific photoelectric conversion element is arranged, the first imaging data after the multiplication operation obtained in the step (d) and the second after the multiplication operation obtained in the step (e). Step (f) of synchronizing color information using imaging data
A shading correction method comprising: The shading correction data corresponding to the specific photoelectric conversion element obtained in the step (a) is adjacent to the specific photoelectric conversion element on a second photoelectric conversion element different from the first photoelectric conversion element. A step (g) of performing correction with a coefficient corresponding to the third color information of the arranged color filter;
A step (h) of multiplying the image signal obtained from the second photoelectric conversion element into a digital value by multiplying the corrected shading correction data obtained in the step (g);
In the step (f), in addition to the first imaging data and the second imaging data, color information is simultaneously obtained using the third imaging data after the multiplication operation obtained in the step (h). The shading correction method according to claim 1, wherein:   The shading correction method according to claim 2, wherein the third color information is different from the first color information and the second color information.   The shading according to claim 3, wherein the first color information, the second color information, and the third color information correspond to any one of red, green, and blue. Correction method. The shading according to claim 3, wherein the first color information, the second color information, and the third color information correspond to any one of magenta, yellow, cyan, and white. Correction method.

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