JP2009296147A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device which can stop output of an image signal with many noise components without depending to generation factors of the noise components. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging device 1000 includes: an imaging elements 11 which photographs an object, and generates the image signal; a power supply 2 for an imaging unit which supplies power to the imaging elements 11; and a control unit 3 which controls the power supply 2 for the imaging unit. The control unit 3 obatains a noise level value which is a value of the noise component of the image signal from the imaging elements 11, and operates the power supply 2 for the imaging unit by either one of a normal mode in which the power supply 2 for the imaging unit supplies power to the imaging elements 11 without intermission, or an intermittent mode in which it intermittently supplies the power based on the noise level value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device that includes a power supply unit that supplies power to an imaging unit, and the imaging unit receives power supply from the power supply unit to capture an image of an object. For example, the imaging device is attached to a vehicle and used for image recognition. About.

  Conventionally, as an in-vehicle imaging system, an in-vehicle camera is attached outside a vehicle and an image of the surroundings of the vehicle captured by the in-vehicle camera is displayed on a monitor, thereby prompting a vehicle occupant to check the surrounding conditions of the vehicle. It was mainstream.

  In recent imaging systems for vehicles, image recognition processing is performed based on the image captured by the in-vehicle camera, thereby alerting the vehicle occupant according to the image recognition result or controlling the vehicle driving state according to the image recognition result. Is increasing.

  Thus, in recent years, in-vehicle cameras used in vehicle imaging systems are not only used for capturing images for monitor display, but also for capturing images for image recognition processing. As a result, the usage of in-vehicle cameras tends to expand.

  In addition, as the usage application of the in-vehicle camera expands, the installation location of the in-vehicle camera has also expanded. For example, in-vehicle cameras are also being installed in an environment with severe temperature conditions such as the vicinity of an engine room or a place where the vehicle is exposed to direct sunlight.

  By the way, an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is widely used in an imaging unit of a vehicle-mounted camera. An image sensor such as a CCD has a feature that the noise level of an image signal increases as the temperature rises, and is known to have a narrower guaranteed operating temperature range than a general semiconductor element. Yes. For this reason, when an in-vehicle camera is installed in a place with severe temperature conditions, the image sensor in the in-vehicle camera operates outside the guaranteed operating temperature range, which generates fixed pattern noise and an image signal with many noise components. Is output from the image sensor, and as a result, the image quality may be deteriorated.

In Patent Document 1, a camera power source that supplies power to an in-vehicle camera including a CCD element is provided, and a temperature sensor is mounted in the vicinity of the in-vehicle camera to determine whether the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. Thus, an imaging apparatus that controls the continuation or stop of power supply to a vehicle-mounted camera by a camera power supply is disclosed. As a result, it is possible to stop the output of the image signal having a large noise component by controlling the CCD element not to operate outside the guaranteed operating temperature range.
Japanese Patent No. 3462812

  However, in the imaging device described in Patent Document 1, since the power supply to the vehicle-mounted camera by the camera power supply is controlled to be continued or stopped based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, the generation of noise components due to the temperature rise is generated. Although it was possible to reduce the influence on the image signal due to noise components caused by the temperature rise by detecting from the temperature in the vicinity of the in-vehicle camera, for example, in the transmission path due to radio wave radiation from other electronic devices in the vicinity of the in-vehicle camera Generation of noise components due to factors other than temperature rise, such as external noise that is mixed in, cannot be detected, and the influence of noise components due to factors other than temperature rise on the image signal cannot be reduced. In particular, when a captured image of an image sensor is used for image recognition processing, if the image recognition processing is performed based on an image including a noise component, the accuracy of the image recognition is reduced, and erroneous determination may occur. Moreover, in the imaging device described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to newly provide a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the vehicle-mounted camera.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of stopping the output of an image signal having a large amount of noise components regardless of the cause of the generation of noise components. To do.

  An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup device that picks up a subject and generates an image signal, a power supply unit that supplies power to the image pickup device, and a noise level that indicates a level of a noise component of the image signal from the image pickup device. Value is acquired, and based on the noise level value, the power supply unit is operated in either a normal mode in which the power supply unit supplies power to the image sensor without interruption or an intermittent mode in which power is intermittently supplied And a control unit.

  With this configuration, the control unit obtains a noise level value indicating the level of the noise component of the image signal from the image sensor, so that in addition to the noise component caused by the temperature rise, external noise mixed in the transmission path, etc., other than the temperature rise It is also possible to detect the generation of noise components due to these factors. In addition, since the control unit operates the power supply unit in either a normal mode in which the power supply unit supplies power to the image sensor without interruption or an intermittent mode in which the power supply unit intermittently supplies based on the noise level value, the temperature The power supply unit is operated in the intermittent mode when the level value of the noise component of the image signal becomes high regardless of the generation factor of the noise component such as rising or external noise. As a result, when the level value of the noise component is high, the power supply to the image sensor can be basically stopped, the output of the image signal having a large noise component can be stopped, and the power is intermittently supplied to the image sensor. To check the noise level value, it is possible to return to the normal mode when the noise level value decreases. In this way, output of an image signal having a large noise component can be stopped regardless of the cause of the noise component.

  Preferably, in the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit determines whether the noise level value is equal to or higher than a first threshold value when the power supply unit operates in the normal mode. The power supply unit is operated in the intermittent mode when the noise level value is greater than or equal to the first threshold, and in the normal mode when the noise level value is less than the first threshold, When the unit is operating in the intermittent mode, it is determined whether the noise level value is greater than or equal to a second threshold, and if the noise level value is greater than or equal to the second threshold, in the intermittent mode, When the noise level value is less than the second threshold value, the power supply unit is operated in the normal mode.

  With this configuration, the control unit can prevent frequent mode switching by using different thresholds depending on whether the power supply unit is operating in the normal mode or the intermittent mode. For example, the frequency of switching between the normal mode and the intermittent mode can be adjusted by adjusting the difference between the threshold for the normal mode and the threshold for the intermittent mode.

  In the imaging device according to the present invention, the imaging element includes an optical black region in which a plurality of pixels shielded by a light shielding unit are arranged in parallel, and the control unit includes any pixel in the optical black region. The level value of the signal output from is acquired as the noise level value.

  With this configuration, the control unit obtains the level value of the signal output from an arbitrary pixel in the optical black area of the image sensor as the noise level value, so that it is affected by the subject regardless of the cause of the noise component. It is possible to stably detect the generation of a noise component from an image signal in a non-optical black region.

  In addition, the imaging apparatus according to the present invention performs a process of recognizing the subject by collating image information obtained by the imaging unit imaging the subject with predetermined reference information. The control unit inputs control state information indicating whether the power supply unit is operating in the normal mode or the intermittent mode to the recognition processing unit, and the recognition processing unit Based on the information, the recognition process is performed.

  With this configuration, the control unit inputs control state information indicating whether the power supply unit is operating in the normal mode or the intermittent mode to the recognition processing unit, and the recognition processing unit performs recognition processing based on the control state information. Therefore, it is possible to prevent subject recognition processing from being performed using an image signal having a large amount of noise components. As a result, it is possible to prevent the accuracy of image recognition from being reduced and erroneous determination from occurring.

  In addition, the power supply control program according to the present invention obtains a noise level value indicating a level of a noise component of the image signal from an imaging element that captures an image of a subject and generates an image signal, and a power supply unit. In the normal mode in which the power supply unit supplies power to the image sensor without interruption based on the noise level value, or in the intermittent mode in which the power is supplied intermittently based on the noise level value. And a step of causing a computer to execute a step of transmitting a control signal for operating the power supply unit to the power supply unit. This configuration also provides the advantages of the present invention described above.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium that records the above-described power supply control program.

  The power supply control method according to the present invention includes a step of imaging a subject by an image sensor to generate an image signal, a step of supplying power to the image sensor by a power supply unit, and a level of a noise component of the image signal. In the normal mode in which the power supply unit supplies power to the imaging device without interruption based on the noise level value, or in the intermittent mode in which the power supply unit supplies intermittently, the power supply unit And a step of operating. This method also provides the same advantages as those of the above-described imaging device of the present invention.

  The present invention acquires a noise level value indicating the level of a noise component of an image signal, and based on the noise level value, a normal mode in which the power supply unit supplies power to the imaging unit without interruption, or an intermittent supply that intermittently supplies Provided is an imaging apparatus having an effect that an output of an image signal having a large noise component can be stopped regardless of a cause of the generation of a noise component by providing a control unit that operates a power supply unit in any of the modes. It is something that can be done.

Hereinafter, imaging devices according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the imaging apparatus 1000 includes a camera unit 100 and a recognition processing unit 200. The camera unit 100 and the recognition processing unit 200 are connected to each other by an image signal line A and a serial communication line B. The camera unit 100 includes an imaging unit 1, an imaging unit power source 2, a control unit 3, and a control unit power source 4.

  The imaging unit 1 includes an imaging element 11 and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 12. The image sensor 11 captures an image of a subject, and generates an image signal by photoelectrically converting the light of the subject imaged on the imaging surface.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the imaging surface of the imaging device 11. As shown in FIG. 2, an effective pixel area 11 a and an optical black area (referred to as an OB area) 11 b are provided on the imaging surface of the imaging element 11. The effective pixel area 11 a is an area for imaging a subject, and is provided in the center of the imaging surface of the imaging element 11. In the effective pixel region 11a, a plurality of pixels that convert received light into an electrical signal are arranged in parallel. The OB region 11b is a region for obtaining a black level signal charge as a reference for black balance adjustment, and is provided around the effective pixel region 11a. In the OB region 11b, a plurality of pixels shielded by the light shielding means are arranged in parallel.

  The DSP 12 performs pre-programmed image processing on the image signal generated by the image sensor 11. The imaging unit 1 outputs the image signal image-processed by the DSP 12 to the recognition processing unit 200 via the image signal line A. Further, the imaging unit 1 outputs the level value (noise level value) of the noise component of the image signal to the control unit 3 via the signal line C as noise level information. At this time, an average value, a variance value, or both values of level values (output level values) of signals output from pixels in an arbitrary range in the OB region 12 can be used as the noise level value. As described above, since the pixels in the OB area 12 are shielded by the light shielding means, signals output from the pixels in the OB area 12 are not affected by the subject. Therefore, by using the output level value as the noise level value for noise level information, noise level information that is not affected by the subject can be acquired.

  The imaging unit power supply 2 is a dedicated power supply for the imaging unit 1 and is provided independently of the control unit power supply 4. The power supply 2 for the imaging unit supplies power for operating the imaging unit 1 to the imaging unit 1 via the power supply line D. At this time, the imaging unit power supply 2 supplies power to the imaging unit 1 or stops supplying power in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 3. The imaging unit power supply 2 corresponds to the power supply unit of the present invention.

The control unit 3 acquires a noise level value from the noise level information input by the imaging unit 1 and controls ON / OFF to control supply of power to the imaging unit 1 or stop of supply based on the noise level value. An OFF control signal is generated and output to the imaging unit power supply 2 via the signal line E. In addition, the control unit 3 generates an information signal (control state information signal) relating to a control state in which the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating according to the ON / OFF control signal, and serializes the control state information signal to the recognition processing unit 200. Input via communication line B.
The control unit power supply 4 supplies power for operating the control unit 3 to the control unit 3 via the power supply line F.

  The recognition processing unit 200 performs processing for recognizing a subject by comparing information obtained by the imaging unit 1 capturing an image of the subject with predetermined reference information. The authentication processing unit 200 receives an image signal of a subject captured by the imaging unit 1 via the image signal line A. Further, a control state information signal generated by the control unit 3 is input to the authentication processing unit 200 via the serial signal line B. The authentication processing unit 200 performs authentication processing based on the control state information signal generated by the control unit 3.

  Here, the control unit 3 operates the imaging unit power supply 2 in either the normal mode or the intermittent mode based on the noise level value described above. At this time, the control unit 3 generates an ON / OFF control signal corresponding to the operation in the normal mode or the intermittent mode, and inputs this to the imaging unit power supply 2. The normal mode is a mode in which the imaging unit power supply 2 supplies power to the imaging unit 1 without interruption, and the intermittent mode is a mode in which the imaging unit power supply 2 intermittently supplies power to the imaging unit 1.

  The term “intermittent” here means that after the power supply 2 for the imaging unit supplies power to the imaging unit 1, the power supply is stopped and the next power supply is performed to the imaging unit 1. This also includes the operation of repeatedly stopping the supply a plurality of times. The length of the power supply time and supply stop time is not questioned. For example, it is possible not only to repeat the power supply time and the power supply stop time, but also to set the power supply time and the power supply stop time to be freely extended or shortened.

  The control unit 3 acquires a noise level value from the noise level information, and determines whether or not the noise level value is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value. When the noise level value is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the control unit 3 generates an ON / OFF control signal corresponding to the operation in the intermittent mode, and inputs this control signal to the imaging unit power source 2, whereby the imaging unit power source 2. Is operated in intermittent mode. On the other hand, when the noise level value is less than the threshold value, the control unit 3 generates an ON / OFF control signal corresponding to the operation in the normal mode, and inputs this control signal to the imaging unit power supply 2, thereby The power supply 2 is operated in the normal mode.

  In accordance with the ON / OFF control signal, the imaging unit power supply 2 supplies power to the imaging unit 1 without interruption in the normal mode, and intermittently supplies power to the imaging unit 1 in the intermittent mode. Preferably, a plurality of threshold values may be set, for example, a threshold value used in the normal mode and a threshold value used in the intermittent mode are set separately. That is, the control unit 3 may perform the determination process by changing the threshold depending on whether the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the normal mode or the intermittent mode. As a result, frequent mode switching can be prevented. For example, the frequency of switching between the normal mode and the intermittent mode can be adjusted by adjusting the difference between the threshold for the normal mode and the threshold for the intermittent mode.

  In addition, the control unit 3 generates a control state information signal indicating whether the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the normal mode or the intermittent mode according to the ON / OFF control signal, and inputs this to the recognition processing unit 200. . Based on the control state information signal, the authentication processing unit 200 performs authentication processing when the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the normal mode, and when the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the intermittent mode. Stop the authentication process.

  FIG. 3 shows the correlation between the noise level of the OB region 11 b of the image sensor 11 and the temperature, and is a diagram for explaining the threshold used by the control unit 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the noise level of the OB region 11b increases as the temperature of the image sensor 11 increases.

  Here, the first threshold value L1 and the second threshold value L2 are set as threshold values used by the control unit 3. The first threshold L1 is used when the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the normal mode, and the second threshold L2 is used when the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the intermittent mode.

  That is, when the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the normal mode, the control unit 3 determines whether or not the noise level value is equal to or greater than the first threshold value L1, and the noise level value is equal to or greater than the first threshold value L1. In this case, the control for switching the normal mode to operate the imaging unit power supply 2 in the intermittent mode is performed. If the noise level value is less than the first threshold value L2, the imaging unit power supply is continuously operated in the normal mode. 2 is operated.

  On the other hand, when the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the intermittent mode, the control unit 3 determines whether or not the noise level value is equal to or higher than the second threshold L2, and the noise level value is equal to or higher than the second threshold L2. In this case, control for continuously operating the imaging unit power supply unit 2 in the intermittent mode is performed. When the noise level value is less than the second threshold value L2, the intermittent mode is switched to the normal mode for the imaging unit. Control to operate the power supply unit 2 is performed.

  Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of power supply control of the imaging apparatus 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, it is assumed that the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the normal mode in accordance with the ON / OFF control signal of the control unit 3. At this time, the power supply 2 for the imaging unit continuously supplies power to the imaging unit 1 without interruption, and is in a state of supplying power to the imaging unit 1 (step (STEP: hereinafter referred to as S)). 1). When the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the normal mode, the authentication processing unit 200 continues to execute the authentication process according to the control state information signal from the control unit 3. The control unit 3 reads the noise level value from the noise level information and acquires it (S2). At this time, as described above, an average value, a variance value, or both values of level values (output level values) of signals output from pixels in an arbitrary range in the OB region 11b can be used as the noise level value. . By using the output level value as the noise level value for noise level information, noise level information that is not affected by the subject can be acquired.

  Next, the control unit 3 determines whether or not the acquired noise level value is greater than or equal to the threshold value L1 (S3). In the determination result of the noise level value in step S3, when the noise level value is equal to or greater than the threshold L1 (Yes in S3), the control unit 3 performs control to operate the imaging unit power source 2 in the intermittent mode, and the imaging unit power source 2 Performs a process of stopping power supply to the imaging unit 1 (S4). By performing this process, the power supply to the imaging unit 1 is stopped (S5). When the imaging unit power supply 2 operates in the intermittent mode, the authentication processing unit 200 stops the execution of the authentication process according to the control state information signal from the control unit 3.

  In the determination result of the noise level value in step S3, when the noise level value is less than the threshold value L1 (No in S3), the control unit 3 performs control to operate the imaging unit power supply 2 in the normal mode, and acquires the noise level value. The process (S2) and the noise level value determination process (S3) are repeated.

  When the predetermined time has elapsed after the power supply to the imaging unit 1 is stopped (S5) (Yes in S6), the control unit 3 temporarily controls the imaging unit power supply 2. A process of supplying power to the imaging unit 1 is performed (S7). In step S6, until the predetermined time elapses, the power supply to the imaging unit 1 is maintained (No in S6, S5). When the imaging unit power supply 2 temporarily supplies power to the imaging unit 1, the control unit 3 reads the noise level value from the noise level information and obtains it (S8), as in step S2.

  Next, the control unit 3 determines whether or not the acquired noise level value is greater than or equal to the threshold L2 (S9). Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the threshold value L2 used in step S9 is set to a value different from the threshold value L1 used in step S3, and has a relationship of L2 <L1.

  In the determination result of the noise level value in step S9, when the noise level value is less than the threshold value L2 (Yes in S9), the control unit 3 switches from the intermittent mode to the normal mode for the imaging unit using the ON / OFF control signal. Control for operating the power supply 2 is performed, and the power supply 2 for the imaging unit starts supplying power to the imaging unit 1 (S10). By performing this process, the imaging unit power supply 2 resumes the continuous power supply to the imaging unit 1, and thereby the power is supplied to the imaging unit 1 (S <b> 1). . When the imaging unit power supply 2 operates in the normal mode, the authentication processing unit 200 starts executing the authentication process according to the control state information signal from the control unit 3.

  In the determination result of the noise level value in step S9, when the noise level value is greater than or equal to the threshold value L2 (No in S9), the control unit 3 performs control to operate the imaging unit power source 2 in the intermittent mode, and repeats S5 to S9. .

  According to such an imaging apparatus 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 3 obtains a noise level value indicating the level of the noise component of the image signal from the imaging element 11, so that the noise component caused by the temperature rise is a factor. In addition, it is possible to detect the generation of noise components due to factors other than temperature rise, such as external noise mixed in the transmission path. Further, based on the acquired noise level value, the control unit 3 performs imaging in either a normal mode in which the imaging unit power supply 2 supplies power to the imaging element 11 without interruption or an intermittent mode in which the power is intermittently supplied. Since the power supply 2 for the part is operated, the power supply 2 for the imaging part is operated in the intermittent mode when the level value of the noise component of the image signal becomes high regardless of the cause of the noise component such as the temperature rise or the external noise. Let Thereby, when the level value of the noise component is high, the power supply to the image sensor 11 can be basically stopped, and the output of the image signal having a large noise component can be stopped, and the image sensor 11 is intermittently performed. By checking the noise level value by supplying electric power, the normal mode can be restored when the noise level value decreases. In this way, output of an image signal having a large noise component can be stopped regardless of the generation factor of the noise component. As a result, the use of the image pickup device 11 in a severe environment such as a high temperature environment is avoided, and the image pickup device 11 can be protected. Further, since it is not necessary to newly provide a temperature sensor in order to detect the generation of noise components, the number of components can be reduced as compared with the imaging device described in Patent Document 1.

  In addition, according to the imaging apparatus 1000 of the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 3 uses a different threshold depending on whether the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the normal mode or the intermittent mode, thereby enabling mode switching. It can be prevented from being performed frequently. For example, the frequency of switching between the normal mode and the intermittent mode can be adjusted by adjusting the difference between the threshold for the normal mode and the threshold for the intermittent mode.

  Further, according to the imaging apparatus 1000 of the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 3 acquires the level value of the signal output from any pixel in the optical black region 11b of the imaging device 11 as the noise level value. Regardless of the cause of the generation of the noise component, the generation of the noise component can be stably detected from the image signal in the optical black area 11b that is not affected by the subject.

  Further, according to the imaging apparatus 1000 of the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 3 controls the control state information indicating whether the imaging unit power supply 2 is operating in the normal mode or the intermittent mode with respect to the imaging unit 1. Since the recognition processing unit 200 performs recognition processing based on the control state information, it is possible to prevent subject recognition processing from being performed using a low-quality image signal with many noise components. . As a result, it is possible to prevent the accuracy of image recognition from being reduced and erroneous determination from occurring.

  The power supply control method according to the embodiment of the present invention acquires a noise level value indicating the level of a noise component of an image signal, and the power supply for imaging unit 2 supplies power to the imaging unit 1 based on the noise level value. Includes a control step of operating the power supply unit 2 for the imaging unit in either the normal mode for supplying the image without interruption or the intermittent mode for supplying intermittently, and thus has the same advantages as the imaging apparatus 1000 of the present invention described above. can get.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above by way of example, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be changed or modified according to the purpose within the scope of the claims. is there.

  In the above-described embodiment, the imaging apparatus and the power supply control method according to the present invention have been specifically described. However, the present invention is not limited to these. The present invention may be a power supply control program that causes a computer to execute each step of the above-described power supply control method, or may be a computer-readable recording medium that records the power supply control program. .

  As described above, the present invention has an effect that output of an image signal having a large amount of noise components can be stopped regardless of the cause of generation of noise components. For example, the present invention is attached to a vehicle and used for image recognition. It is useful for an imaging device to be used.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the structure of the imaging surface of the image pick-up element used for the imaging device of embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the correlation of the noise level and temperature of OB area | region of the image pick-up element used for the imaging device of embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the electric power supply control of the imaging device of embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image pick-up part 2 Power supply for image pick-up parts 3 Control part 4 Power supply for control parts 11 Image pick-up element 12 DSP
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Camera part 200 Recognition processing part 1000 Imaging device

Claims (7)

An image sensor that images a subject and generates an image signal;
A power supply for supplying power to the image sensor;
A normal mode in which a noise level value indicating the level of a noise component of the image signal is acquired from the image sensor, and the power supply unit supplies power to the image sensor without interruption based on the noise level value, or intermittently An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit that operates the power supply unit in any of intermittent modes supplied to the camera.   The control unit determines whether the noise level value is equal to or higher than a first threshold value when the power source unit is operating in the normal mode, and the noise level value is equal to or higher than the first threshold value. In the intermittent mode, when the noise level value is less than the first threshold value, the power supply unit is operated in the normal mode, and when the power supply unit is operating in the intermittent mode, It is determined whether or not the noise level value is greater than or equal to a second threshold value. When the noise level value is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the intermittent mode is performed, and when the noise level value is less than the second threshold value. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is operated in the normal mode. The imaging element has an optical black region in which a plurality of pixels shielded by a light shielding unit are arranged in parallel,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires a level value of a signal output from an arbitrary pixel in the optical black area as the noise level value. A recognition processing unit that performs processing for recognizing the subject by collating image information obtained by the imaging unit capturing the subject with predetermined reference information;
The control unit inputs control state information indicating whether the power supply unit is operating in the normal mode or the intermittent mode to the recognition processing unit,
The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the recognition processing unit performs the recognition processing based on the control state information. Obtaining a noise level value indicating a level of a noise component of the image signal from an image sensor that images the subject and generates an image signal;
Supplying power to the image sensor with respect to a power supply unit;
Based on the noise level value, a control signal for operating the power supply unit in either a normal mode in which the power supply unit supplies power to the image sensor without interruption or an intermittent mode in which power is intermittently supplied And a step of causing the computer to execute the step of transmitting to the unit.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the power supply control program according to claim 5 is recorded. Imaging a subject with an imaging element to generate an image signal;
Supplying power to the imaging device by a power supply unit;
A normal mode in which a noise level value indicating a level of a noise component of the image signal is acquired, and the power supply unit supplies power to the image sensor without interruption based on the noise level value, or intermittently supplied intermittently And a step of operating the power supply unit in any of the modes.