JP2010256444A5

JP2010256444A5 -

Info

Publication number: JP2010256444A5
Application number: JP2009103705A
Authority: JP
Filing date: 2009-04-22
Publication date: 2012-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2029-04-22

Description

上記課題を解決するため、請求項１に記載の発明の焦点調整装置は、
レンズの焦点距離が第１の状態で撮像される第１画像を逐次取得する第１取得手段と、前記第１取得手段による前記第１画像の取得中に、レンズの焦点距離を前記第１の状態とは異なる第２の状態にして撮像された第２画像を取得する第２取得手段と、前記第２取得手段により取得された前記第２画像に基づいて、前記第１取得手段による前記第１画像の撮像の際のレンズの焦点距離の状態を変更する変更手段と、を備えたことを特徴としている。 In order to solve the above-described problem, the focus adjustment device of the invention described in claim 1
A first obtaining unit that focal length of the lens is sequentially acquires the first image that will be captured in the first state, during acquisition of the first image by the first acquisition unit, a focal length of said first lens the state based on different second acquisition means for acquiring a second image which is the second state to the imaging, the second image acquired by the second acquisition means, wherein by the first acquisition means first And changing means for changing the state of the focal length of the lens at the time of capturing one image.

請求項２に記載の発明は、更に、前記第１画像及び前記第２画像のコントラストをそれぞれ算出して、比較判定する判定手段を更に備え、前記変更手段は、前記判定手段により前記第２画像のコントラストが前記第１画像のコントラストよりも良いと判定された場合に、前記第１取得手段による前記第１画像の撮像の際のレンズの焦点距離の状態を変更することを特徴としている。
請求項３に記載の発明は、更に、前記変更手段は、前記判定手段により前記第１画像のコントラストが前記第２画像のコントラストよりも良いと判定された場合には、前記第１取得手段による前記第１画像の撮像の際のレンズの焦点距離の状態を前記第１の状態に維持することを特徴としている。
請求項４に記載の発明は、更に、前記変更手段は、前記判定手段により前記第２画像のコントラストが前記第１画像のコントラストよりも良いと判定された場合に、前記第１取得手段による前記第１画像の撮像の際のレンズの焦点距離の状態を、前記第１の状態から前記第２の状態に基づく他の状態に変更することを特徴としている。
請求項５に記載の発明は、更に、前記第２取得手段により取得された前記第２画像を表示することなく、前記第１取得手段により逐次取得される第１画像を逐次表示する表示手段を更に備えたことを特徴としている。
請求項６に記載の発明は、更に、前記第１取得手段は、レンズの焦点距離を第１の焦点距離に固定した状態で撮像される第１画像を逐次取得し、前記第２取得手段は、前記第１取得手段による前記第１画像の取得中に、一時的にレンズの焦点距離を前記第１の焦点距離とは異なる第２の焦点距離にして撮像された第２画像を取得し、その後、レンズの焦点距離を前記第１の焦点距離に戻して前記第１取得手段の撮像動作を継続させることを特徴としている。
請求項７に記載の発明は、更に、前記レンズは、印加電圧に応じて焦点を変化させる可変焦点レンズであり、前記第２取得手段は、前記第１取得手段による前記第１画像の取得中に、前記可変焦点レンズの焦点を変化させることによって、一時的にレンズの焦点距離を前記第１の焦点距離とは異なる第２の焦点距離にすることを特徴としている。
請求項８に記載の発明は、更に、前記第２取得手段は、レンズの焦点距離を変化させながら焦点調整用の第２画像を複数取得し、前記表示手段は、前記焦点調整用の第２画像を表示することなく、前記複数の第１画像を所定の更新間隔で更新して表示することを特徴としている。 The invention according to claim 2 further includes determination means for calculating and comparing the contrasts of the first image and the second image, respectively, and the changing means includes the second image by the determination means. When the contrast of the first image is determined to be better than the contrast of the first image, the state of the focal length of the lens when the first acquisition unit captures the first image is changed .
According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the determining means determines that the contrast of the first image is better than the contrast of the second image, the changing means uses the first acquiring means. It is characterized in that the state of the focal length of the lens at the time of capturing the first image is maintained in the first state.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the change unit further includes the first acquisition unit configured to determine whether the change of the second image is better than the contrast of the first image by the determination unit. The state of the focal length of the lens at the time of capturing the first image is changed from the first state to another state based on the second state.
The invention according to claim 5 further includes display means for sequentially displaying the first images sequentially acquired by the first acquisition means without displaying the second images acquired by the second acquisition means. It is further characterized by the provision.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the first acquisition unit sequentially acquires a first image captured in a state where the focal length of the lens is fixed to the first focal length, and the second acquisition unit , During the acquisition of the first image by the first acquisition means, to acquire a second image that is imaged temporarily with a second focal length different from the first focal length of the lens, Thereafter, the focal length of the lens is returned to the first focal length, and the imaging operation of the first acquisition unit is continued.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the lens is a variable focus lens that changes a focal point in accordance with an applied voltage, and the second acquisition unit is acquiring the first image by the first acquisition unit. In addition, the focal length of the variable focal length lens is changed to temporarily change the focal length of the lens to a second focal length different from the first focal length.
The invention described in claim 8 is such that the second acquisition means acquires a plurality of second images for focus adjustment while changing the focal length of the lens, and the display means outputs the second image for focus adjustment. The plurality of first images are updated and displayed at predetermined update intervals without displaying images.

請求項９に記載の発明は、更に、前記第２取得手段により取得された前記複数の第２画像のコントラストを比較することにより焦点調整を行う焦点調整手段を更に備えたことを特徴としている。 The invention described in claim 9 is further characterized by further comprising a focus adjusting means for performing focus adjustment by comparing contrasts of the plurality of second images acquired by the second acquiring means.

請求項１０に記載の発明は、更に、撮像により画像フレームを順次生成する撮像手段を更に備え、前記第１取得手段及び前記第２取得手段は、前記撮像手段により生成された各画像フレームを構成する複数の画素からなる所定方向の各ラインを所定の取得規則に従って前記第１画像及び前記第２画像としてそれぞれ順次取得することを特徴としている。 Invention of claim 10, further further comprising an imaging means for sequentially generating an image frame by the imaging, the first acquisition means and the second acquisition unit, configure each image frame generated by said image pickup means Each line of a plurality of pixels in a predetermined direction is sequentially acquired as the first image and the second image according to a predetermined acquisition rule.

請求項１１に記載の発明は、更に、前記判定手段は、前記第１画像としてのラインの所定方向のコントラストと前記第２画像としてのラインの所定方向のコントラストとを比較判定することを特徴としている。 The invention according to claim 11 is further characterized in that the determination means compares and determines the contrast in the predetermined direction of the line as the first image and the contrast in the predetermined direction of the line as the second image. Yes.

請求項１２に記載の発明は、更に、撮像により画像フレームを順次生成する撮像手段を更に備え、前記第１取得手段及び前記第２取得手段は、前記撮像手段により生成された各画像フレームを所定の取得規則に従って前記第１画像及び前記第２画像としてそれぞれ順次取得することを特徴としている。 The invention of claim 12 further further comprising an imaging means for sequentially generating an image frame by the imaging, the first obtaining unit and the second obtaining means, the predetermined each image frame generated by said image pickup means According to the acquisition rule, the first image and the second image are sequentially acquired.

請求項１３に記載の発明は、更に、前記撮像手段に撮像された前記第２画像の表示タイミングで前記表示手段に表示される画像を当該第２画像の前後の第１画像から補間生成する画像生成手段を更に備えることを特徴としている。 The invention according to claim 13, further images for interpolating generates an image displayed on the display unit at a display timing of the second image captured in the imaging unit from the first image of the front and rear of the second image It further has a generation means.

請求項１４に記載の発明は、更に、前記変更手段は、静止画撮像モードにて、前記表示手段に前記複数の第１画像を順次更新して表示中に、前記第１画像の撮像の際のレンズの焦点距離を前記第２画像を撮像した際の焦点距離に変更し、前記撮像手段は、レンズの焦点距離を固定した状態で本画像の撮像を行うことを特徴としている。 Invention of claim 14, further comprising changing means, in the still image capturing mode, the plurality of first image sequentially while updating and displaying on the display means, when the imaging of the first image The focal length of the lens is changed to the focal length when the second image is captured, and the imaging means captures the main image with the focal length of the lens fixed.

請求項１５に記載の発明は、更に、前記複数の第１画像からなる動画像を記録する動画像記録手段を更に備え、前記変更手段は、動画撮像モードにて、前記動画像記録手段による前記動画像の記録中に、前記第１画像の撮像の際のレンズの焦点距離を前記第２画像を撮像した際の焦点距離に変更することを特徴としている。 The invention according to claim 15, further further includes the moving picture recording means for recording a moving image composed of a plurality of first image, wherein the changing means is at moving image pickup mode, the by the moving image recording unit During recording of a moving image, the focal length of the lens at the time of capturing the first image is changed to the focal length at the time of capturing the second image.

請求項１６に記載の発明は、更に、前記第１取得手段による前記第１画像の取得及び前記第２取得手段による前記第２画像の取得を交互に順次行うことを特徴としている。 The invention according to claim 16, further characterized by sequentially performing the acquisition of the second image by acquiring and the second acquisition unit of the first image by the first acquisition means alternately.

請求項１７に記載の発明は、更に、前記レンズは、印加電圧に応じて焦点を変化させる可変焦点レンズであり、前記可変焦点レンズの焦点を変化させることによって、前記第１画像及び前記第２画像を撮像する際の焦点距離を変化させることを特徴としている。 According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the lens is a variable focus lens that changes a focus according to an applied voltage, and the first image and the second image are changed by changing a focus of the variable focus lens. It is characterized by changing the focal length when taking an image.

請求項１８に記載の発明は、更に、前記第１画像及び前記第２画像を撮像する際の焦点距離に係る第１管理情報及び第２管理情報を記憶する管理手段を更に備え、前記管理手段は、前記判定手段により前記第２画像のコントラストが前記第１画像のコントラストよりも良いと判定された場合に、前記第１管理情報の内容を前記第２画像を撮像した際の焦点距離に変更することを特徴としている。 The invention described in claim 18 further comprises management means for storing first management information and second management information relating to a focal length when the first image and the second image are captured, and the management means If the determination means determines that the contrast of the second image is better than the contrast of the first image, the content of the first management information is changed to the focal length when the second image is captured. It is characterized by doing.

請求項１９に記載の発明の焦点調整方法は、
焦点調整装置に、レンズの焦点距離が第１の状態で撮像される第１画像を逐次取得する第１取得処理と、前記第１取得処理による前記第１画像の取得中に、レンズの焦点距離を前記第１の状態とは異なる第２の状態にして撮像された第２画像を取得する第２取得処理と、前記第２取得処理により取得された前記第２画像に基づいて、前記第１取得処理による前記第１画像の撮像の際のレンズの焦点距離の状態を変更する変更処理と、を実行させることを特徴としている。 According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided:
A focusing apparatus, a first obtaining process of the focal length of the lens is sequentially acquires the first image that will be captured in the first state, during acquisition of the first image by the first acquisition processing, the focal length of the lens based on the first state is different from a second obtaining process of obtaining a second image which is the second state to the imaging, the acquired by the second acquisition processing said second image, said first And a change process for changing the state of the focal length of the lens at the time of capturing the first image by the acquisition process .

請求項２０に記載の発明のプログラムは、
焦点調整装置のコンピュータを、レンズの焦点距離が第１の状態で撮像される第１画像を逐次取得する第１取得手段、前記第１取得手段による前記第１画像の取得中に、レンズの焦点距離を前記第１の状態とは異なる第２の状態にして撮像された第２画像を取得する第２取得手段、前記第２取得手段により取得された前記第２画像に基づいて、前記第１取得手段による前記第１画像の撮像の際のレンズの焦点距離の状態を変更する変更手段、として機能させることを特徴としている。 The program of the invention described in claim 20 is
The computer of the focus adjustment apparatus, a first acquiring means the focal length of the lens is sequentially acquires the first image that will be captured in the first state, during acquisition of the first image by the first acquisition means, the focal point of the lens second acquisition means for acquiring a second image captured in the second state different distances between the first state, on the basis of the acquired second image by the second acquisition means, said first It is characterized by functioning as changing means for changing the state of the focal length of the lens when the first image is captured by the acquiring means .

Claims

A first acquisition means for sequentially acquiring the first image that will be captured by the focal length a first state of the lens,
A second acquisition unit configured to acquire a second image captured by setting a focal length of a lens in a second state different from the first state during acquisition of the first image by the first acquisition unit ;
A changing unit that changes a state of a focal length of the lens when the first image is captured by the first acquiring unit, based on the second image acquired by the second acquiring unit ;
A focus adjusting apparatus comprising:

A determination means for calculating and comparing the contrast of the first image and the second image, respectively;
The changing unit is configured such that when the determination unit determines that the contrast of the second image is better than the contrast of the first image, the focus of the lens when the first acquisition unit captures the first image. The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance state is changed .

When the determining unit determines that the contrast of the first image is better than the contrast of the second image, the changing unit is configured to change the lens at the time of capturing the first image by the first acquiring unit. The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a focal length state is maintained in the first state .

The changing unit is configured such that when the determination unit determines that the contrast of the second image is better than the contrast of the first image, the focus of the lens when the first acquisition unit captures the first image. The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the distance state is changed from the first state to another state based on the second state .

Without displaying the second image acquired by the second acquisition means, according to claim 1, further comprising a display means for sequentially displaying the first image sequentially acquired by the first acquisition means The focus adjusting apparatus according to any one of to 4.

The first acquisition means sequentially acquires a first image captured in a state where the focal length of the lens is fixed to the first focal length,
The second acquisition unit is configured to temporarily capture a first focal length of a lens that is different from the first focal length during acquisition of the first image by the first acquisition unit. the two images acquired, then, according to the focal length of the lens in any one of claim 1 to 5, characterized in that to continue the imaging operation of the first acquisition means is returned to said first focal length Focus adjustment device.

The lens is a variable focus lens that changes a focus according to an applied voltage,
The second acquisition unit temporarily changes the focal length of the lens by changing the focal point of the variable focus lens during the acquisition of the first image by the first acquisition unit. The focus adjusting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second focal lengths are different from each other .

The second acquisition means includes
Acquire multiple second images for focus adjustment while changing the focal length of the lens,
The display means includes
Without displaying the second image for the focus adjustment, the focus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that updating and displaying the plurality of first images at a predetermined update interval Adjustment device.

The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a focus adjustment unit that performs focus adjustment by comparing contrasts of the plurality of second images acquired by the second acquisition unit .

It further comprises imaging means for sequentially generating image frames by imaging,
The first acquisition means and the second acquisition means are:
The line in a predetermined direction composed of a plurality of pixels constituting each image frame generated by the imaging means is sequentially acquired as the first image and the second image according to a predetermined acquisition rule. The focus adjustment apparatus according to any one of 1 to 9.

The determination means includes
The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the contrast in a predetermined direction of the line as the first image is compared with the contrast in the predetermined direction of the line as the second image .

It further comprises imaging means for sequentially generating image frames by imaging ,
The first acquisition means and the second acquisition means are:
The focus adjustment according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein each image frame generated by the imaging unit is sequentially acquired as the first image and the second image according to a predetermined acquisition rule. apparatus.

Claims and further comprising an image generating means for interpolating generates an image displayed on the display unit at a display timing of the imaged the second image from the first image of the front and rear of the second image on the imaging device Item 13. The focus adjustment device according to any one of Items 10 to 12 .

The changing means is
In still image capturing mode, while the plurality of first images are sequentially updated and displayed on the display means, the focal length of the lens when capturing the first image is the focus when capturing the second image. Change to distance,
The imaging means includes
The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the main image is captured in a state where the focal length of the lens is fixed .

A moving image recording means for recording a moving image composed of the plurality of first images;
The changing means is
In the moving image capturing mode, during the recording of the moving image by the moving image recording means, the focal length of the lens when capturing the first image is changed to the focal length when capturing the second image. The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the focus adjustment apparatus is characterized in that

The focus adjustment according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein acquisition of the first image by the first acquisition unit and acquisition of the second image by the second acquisition unit are alternately performed sequentially. apparatus.

The lens is
It is a variable focus lens that changes the focus according to the applied voltage,
The focal point according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein a focal length at the time of capturing the first image and the second image is changed by changing a focal point of the variable focus lens. Adjustment device.

A management unit for storing first management information and second management information related to a focal length when the first image and the second image are captured;
The management means includes
When the determination unit determines that the contrast of the second image is better than the contrast of the first image, the content of the first management information is changed to a focal length when the second image is captured. The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

Focus adjustment device
A first acquisition process for sequentially acquiring a first image picked up with a lens focal length in a first state;
A second acquisition process for acquiring a second image picked up in a second state different from the first state during the acquisition of the first image by the first acquisition process;
Based on the second image acquired by the second acquisition process, a change process for changing the state of the focal length of the lens at the time of imaging the first image by the first acquisition process;
A focus adjustment method characterized in that

The computer of the focus adjustment device,
First acquisition means for sequentially acquiring first images picked up with a focal length of the lens in a first state;
A second acquisition means for acquiring a second image picked up with a focal length of a lens in a second state different from the first state during the acquisition of the first image by the first acquisition means;
Changing means for changing a state of a focal length of the lens at the time of imaging of the first image by the first acquisition means based on the second image acquired by the second acquisition means;
A program characterized by functioning as