JP2010279063A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an image size from becoming small, when pixel addition is performed in photographing in an electronic camera, under the condition that shaking correction is not required. <P>SOLUTION: When an auto-photographing mode is set (S116;YES), under a set prescribed photographing condition (S118;YES), an image sensor is driven under a normal readout mode for reading out in order imaging signal charges of all pixels of the image sensor (S119). Furthermore, it is determined whether a shaking reduced photographing or sensitized photographing mode is set (S125;YES) and under the set prescribed photographing condition (S118;NO), in accordance with a photometric value obtained in photometric processing of S114 and the photographing condition set in S109, a pixel addition magnification of the image sensor is calculated and an exposure time is reset (S127). Next, after switching to a vertical & horizontal addition and readout mode for adding and reading out imaging signal charges of pixels of the same color in vertical and horizontal directions of the image sensor, the image sensor is driven (S129). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera that images a subject and records it as a still image.

  Conventionally, camera shake correction methods employed in cameras are roughly classified into optical camera shake correction and electronic camera shake correction. Optical camera shake correction is a method in which a part of the optical system is driven using an actuator. Therefore, the lens portion is large in size and high in cost, and is not suitable for a low-priced small camera. On the other hand, electronic camera shake correction does not have the disadvantages of optical camera shake correction, and is suitable for an inexpensive small camera.

  As this electronic image stabilization, a method of taking a plurality of continuous images and adding corresponding pixels of each image (see Patent Document 1), a method of adding pixels of the same image (see Patent Document 2), There is. In the former case, since shooting timings when shooting a plurality of consecutive images are different, images having different shooting timings are added. Therefore, if the movement of the subject and the amplitude of camera shake are large, even if appropriate sensitivity is obtained by addition, the image may be blurred and the image quality of resolution and sharpness may deteriorate. In order to prevent this, an algorithm for determining whether or not to perform addition processing by detecting a motion vector or the like of the subject is necessary, and high cost is required.

  On the other hand, in the method of adding pixels of the same image, the exposure time can be shortened because sensitization can be achieved by this pixel addition and appropriate sensitivity can be ensured. As a result, even if the movement of the subject and the amplitude of camera shake are large, it is possible to capture a blur-free image with a short exposure time, and no cost is required.

JP 2001-230965 A JP 2000-308072 A

  However, in the method of adding pixels of the same image, the image size is inevitably reduced by the addition. For example, when 2 to 3 pixels in the vertical direction and 2 to 3 pixels in the horizontal direction are added in order to ensure appropriate sensitivity while photographing with a short exposure time, the image size is ¼ to 1/9 depending on the addition magnification. It will become smaller. Therefore, when shooting under conditions that require blur correction, it is possible to shoot an image without blurring in a short exposure time due to sensitization by pixel addition, but there is no need to perform blur correction. Even when shooting is performed below, if pixel addition is performed, the image size is inevitably reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera that can perform photographing while appropriately performing pixel addition.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of pixels, an imaging unit that images a subject by exposure and generates an image signal, a first mode, and a first mode. A setting means for selectively setting the second mode, and when the first mode is set by the setting means, an addition process for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal to the imaging means is executed. A determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined condition to be performed is satisfied; and when the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the imaging unit performs the addition process, and When it is determined that a predetermined condition is not satisfied, a first control unit that outputs the image signal without executing the addition process, and the second mode is set by the mode setting unit. If it is constant, and a second control means for forcibly executing the addition processing on the image pickup means.

  Therefore, when the first mode is set, when it is determined that a predetermined condition for causing the imaging unit to perform addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal is satisfied, and second When the mode is set, the sensitization process is performed by the pixel addition process, and accordingly, the exposure time of the imaging unit can be shortened. Therefore, by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur-reduction shooting with reduced camera shake and subject blur. However, even if the first mode is set, if it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the pixel addition process is not executed, so that shooting is performed under a condition that does not require blur correction. In this case, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that the image size is inevitably reduced by pixel addition.

  Further, in the electronic camera according to the invention of claim 2, the setting means includes means for setting whether to cause the imaging means to execute the addition processing by the first control means, The first control unit performs the addition process on the imaging unit when the setting unit sets execution of the addition process and the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied. And when the setting means has not set execution of the addition process, or when the determination means determines that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the image signal is not executed without executing the addition process. Is output. Therefore, it is possible for the user to set whether or not to automatically perform the pixel addition process.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera including a plurality of pixels, an imaging unit that captures an image of an object by exposure and generates an image signal, and a first mode and a second mode. A setting means for selectively setting a mode, and when the first mode is set by the setting means, the image pickup means should perform an addition process for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal A determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied; and when the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, causes the imaging unit to execute the addition process, and When it is determined that the condition is not satisfied, the second control mode is set by the first control unit that outputs the image signal without executing the addition process, and the mode setting unit. If that, and a second control means for outputting the image signal without executing the addition processing on the image pickup means.

  Therefore, when it is determined that the predetermined condition for causing the imaging unit to perform addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal is satisfied when the first mode is set, Since the sensitization process is performed by the addition process, the exposure time of the imaging unit can be shortened accordingly. Therefore, by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur-reduction shooting with reduced camera shake and subject blur. However, even if the first mode is set, the pixel addition process is not executed when it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied or when the second mode is set. When shooting is performed under conditions where correction is not necessary, pixel inconvenience can be prevented from being inevitable due to pixel addition.

  Moreover, in the electronic camera according to the invention of claim 4, the predetermined condition includes a predetermined photographing condition, and the setting means includes means for variably setting the predetermined photographing condition, The determination unit determines whether or not a predetermined shooting condition is set by the setting unit. Therefore, the user can also set conditions for performing pixel addition processing.

  In the electronic camera according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the addition process is executed by the imaging unit, a pixel interpolation process for interpolating the pixels of the image signal is performed to correct the image size. Image size correcting means is further provided. That is, if the pixel addition process is performed, the image size is reduced accordingly, but an image having a predetermined image size can be captured by correcting the image size.

  In the electronic camera according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there are provided an imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject and generates an image signal. A determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined condition for performing an addition process of adding neighboring pixel components is satisfied; and when the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, A control unit that causes the imaging unit to execute the addition process and outputs the image signal without executing the addition process when it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied; and Is executed, pixel size correction means for correcting the image size by performing pixel interpolation processing for interpolating the pixels of the image signal.

  Therefore, when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the sensitization process is performed by the pixel addition process, and accordingly, the exposure time of the imaging unit can be shortened. Therefore, by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur-reduction shooting with reduced camera shake and subject blur. Further, if the pixel addition process is performed, the image size is reduced accordingly, but an image having a predetermined image size can be taken by correcting the image size.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic camera according to the seventh aspect, wherein the recording means for recording the image signal generated by the imaging means and the designation for designating the image size of the image signal recorded in the recording means And the image size correction means executes the pixel interpolation process when the image size of the image signal subjected to the addition process is smaller than the image size designated by the designation means. Therefore, even if the image size is reduced by the pixel addition process, an image having a predetermined image size can be captured by executing the pixel interpolation process.

In the electronic camera according to the invention described in claim 8, the predetermined condition is:
(1) When the focal length of the imaging lens arranged in front of the imaging means is larger than a predetermined value,
(2) When the imaging lens is driven and the macro mode or the close-up mode is set,
(3) A camera shake amount detected by camera shake detection means for detecting camera shake caused by the displacement of the camera and an image shake detection means for detecting image shake caused by a change in the subject. When one of the image blurs is larger than a predetermined value or a pre-calculated allowable blur amount,
(4) When the subject brightness detected by the detecting means for detecting the brightness of the subject is lower than a predetermined value,
(5) When the strobe of the camera is forcibly set off,
(6) When the exposure time of the imaging means set based on the photometric value measured by the photometric means is longer than a predetermined exposure time,
(7) If the image movement amount due to the movement of the subject within the set exposure time of the imaging unit is larger than a predetermined value or a preliminarily calculated allowable confusion circle diameter, If determined,
(8) From the white balance set by the setting means for setting the white balance, the judging means for judging whether or not the subject is a dark room or an object under electric light illumination, and determines whether the subject is in the dark room or under electric light illumination. It includes at least one condition when it is determined that there is.

  In the electronic camera according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal, and each of the plurality of shooting scenes. Storage means for storing shooting conditions, selection means for selecting any shooting scene stored in the storage means, and setting means for setting shooting conditions corresponding to the shooting scene selected by the selection means. And the setting means, when the shooting scene selected by the selection means is a predetermined shooting scene, causes the imaging means to perform addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal, and If it is not the shooting scene, the image signal is output without executing the addition process.

  Therefore, when the shooting condition corresponding to the selected shooting scene is a predetermined shooting condition, the sensitization process is performed by the pixel addition process, and accordingly, the exposure time of the imaging unit can be shortened. . Therefore, by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur-reduction shooting with reduced camera shake and subject blur. However, even if other shooting scenes whose shooting conditions are not the predetermined shooting conditions are selected, the pixel addition process is not executed, so when shooting is performed under conditions where blur correction is not necessary, It is possible to prevent the disadvantage that the image size is inevitably reduced.

  In addition, in the electronic camera according to the invention of claim 10, an imaging unit having a plurality of pixels and capturing an image of a subject by exposure to generate an image signal, and an image generated by the imaging unit A recording means for recording a signal, a designation means for designating an image size of an image signal recorded in the recording means or a paper size of a paper for printing the image, and the image size or the paper designated by the designation means A setting unit that sets an allowable blur amount that is a blur allowable amount of an image captured by the imaging unit according to a size, a detection unit that detects a blur amount of an image captured by the imaging unit, and the detection unit When the amount of blur of the image detected by the image exceeds the allowable amount of blur set by the setting means, the neighboring pixel components in the image signal are sent to the imaging means To perform addition processing of adding, if it is permissible blur less set by the setting means, and control means for outputting the image signal without executing the addition processing.

  Therefore, the pixel addition process is executed only when the detected image blur amount exceeds the allowable blur amount. Therefore, according to the size of the print paper to be printed, blurring of a printed image that is conspicuous with the naked eye can be automatically reduced and photographed only when necessary.

  Further, in the electronic camera according to the invention of claim 11, the detection means includes a first detection means for detecting a camera shake that is a shake of the electronic camera, and an image itself captured by the imaging means. And at least one of second detection means for detecting image blur that is a blur of the image. Accordingly, it is possible to automatically reduce and shoot a print image blur caused by both camera shake and image blur only when necessary.

  In addition, in the electronic camera according to the invention of claim 12, there is provided an imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal, and an image generated by the imaging unit. Recording means for recording a signal; designation means for designating an image size of the image signal recorded in the recording means; addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal to the imaging means; A control unit that selectively executes non-addition processing for outputting the image signal without performing processing, and an image in which an image size when the addition processing is executed by the imaging unit is designated by the designation unit A determination means for determining whether or not the size is smaller than the size, and an image size when the addition processing is executed by the determination means is designated by the designation means; If it is determined to be smaller than the image size, and a warning means for warning to that effect.

  Therefore, when the image size is smaller than the designated image size by the pixel addition process, a warning to that effect is given, and the user can make the prerecorded image size smaller than the designated image size. It is possible to recognize this, and it is possible to prevent inconvenience that an image having a small image size is recorded without the user's knowledge.

  The electronic camera according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention further comprises input means for inputting a response to the warning by the warning means, and the control means is that the response input by the input means is an affirmative response. If there is, the imaging means is caused to execute the addition process. Therefore, when the image size is smaller than the designated image size by the pixel addition process, the pixel addition process is performed only when there is an acknowledgment from the user. Therefore, after confirming the risk that the image size will be reduced, the user can perform blur reduction shooting by reducing the exposure time of the imaging means and reducing camera shake and subject blur by sensitization processing by pixel addition processing. Become.

  In the electronic camera according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the determination unit determines that the image size when the addition process is executed is smaller than the image size specified by the specification unit. In this case, the image processing apparatus further includes image size correction means for correcting an image size by performing pixel interpolation processing for interpolating pixels of the image signal, and the warning means warns that it is necessary to perform processing for correcting the image size. The control means includes means for causing the image size correction means to execute the correction processing when the affirmative response is received.

  That is, when the pixel interpolation process is performed, the image quality is lowered accordingly. Therefore, it is possible for the user to capture an image having a desired image size by the pixel interpolation process after confirming the risk that the image quality deteriorates.

  In the electronic camera according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there are provided an imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal, and an image generated by the imaging unit. A recording unit that records a signal; a designation unit that designates an image size of the image signal recorded in the recording unit; and based on the image size designated by the designation unit, Control means for selectively executing addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components and non-addition processing for outputting the image signal without performing this addition processing.

  That is, when pixel addition is performed, the image size is thereby reduced. Therefore, if the image pickup unit selectively executes the addition process and the non-addition process based on the image size designated by the designation unit, the image size is maintained according to the designated image size. By performing the addition process or selecting the non-addition process, it is possible to avoid the recorded image size from becoming smaller than the designated image size. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that the recorded image size becomes smaller than the designated image size while shortening the exposure time of the image pickup unit by the sensitization process by the pixel addition process and enabling blur reduction shooting.

  In the electronic camera according to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there are provided an imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal, and an image generated by the imaging unit. A recording unit that records a signal; a designation unit that designates an image size of the image signal recorded in the recording unit; and based on the image size designated by the designation unit, Control means for controlling the number of pixel additions when executing addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components.

  That is, when pixel addition is performed as described above, the image size is thereby reduced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recorded image size from becoming smaller than the designated image size by controlling the number of pixel additions when the imaging unit performs the addition process based on the image size designated by the designation unit. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that the recorded image size becomes smaller than the designated image size while shortening the exposure time of the image pickup unit by the sensitization process by the pixel addition process and enabling blur reduction shooting.

  In the electronic camera according to claim 17, the control means includes calculation means for calculating the limit of the pixel addition number based on the image size designated by the designation means, and the calculation means The addition processing of the imaging means is controlled based on the limit of the number of pixel additions calculated by. Therefore, by performing pixel addition based on the limit of the number of additions in the pixel addition process, it is possible to prevent the recorded image size from becoming smaller than the designated image size or the recorded image size from becoming extremely small. Can do.

  In the electronic camera according to claim 18, the control means reduces the addition number in the addition process of the imaging means within the limit of the pixel addition number. Therefore, it is possible to capture an image having a desired image size while shortening the exposure time of the imaging unit by performing sensitization processing by pixel addition processing and enabling blur reduction shooting.

  Further, in the electronic camera according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, when the image size when the addition process is executed by the imaging unit is smaller than the image size specified by the specifying unit, the image An image size correction unit that corrects an image size by performing a pixel interpolation process for interpolating a signal pixel; and a setting unit that selectively sets operation and non-operation of the image size correction unit. When the operation of the image size correcting means is set by the above, the calculating means includes means for correcting the limit of the pixel addition number to a value larger than that in the case of non-operation.

  That is, the larger the number of pixel additions, the smaller the image size. However, if correction is performed by the image size correcting means, the image size can be increased, so that the number of added pixels can be increased in anticipation of this. Further, since the sensitivity increases as the number of added pixels increases, the exposure time of the imaging means can be shortened accordingly. Therefore, by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur reduction shooting that reliably reduces camera shake and subject blur.

  In the electronic camera according to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, the electronic camera has a plurality of pixels and exposes the subject to pick up an image of the subject to generate an image signal, and detects the brightness of the subject. A detection unit; and a setting unit that sets an imaging sensitivity of the imaging unit according to the brightness of the subject when the brightness of the subject detected by the detection unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined brightness; When the brightness of the subject detected by the detection means exceeds a predetermined brightness, the imaging means is caused to perform addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal, and the detection means detects the brightness. And a control unit that outputs the image signal without executing the addition process when the brightness of the subject is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

  Therefore, under the condition where the brightness of the subject is equal to or lower than the predetermined brightness and blurring is likely to occur, first, the imaging sensitivity is increased without performing pixel addition with a risk of reducing the image size. This reduces the exposure time, thereby enabling blur reduction photography. However, even if the exposure time is decreased by increasing the imaging sensitivity, if the exposure time is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and blurring is likely to occur, the sensitization process by the pixel addition process is performed at this time. As a result, the exposure time of the image pickup means can be shortened, and by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur-reduction shooting with reduced camera shake and subject blur. Therefore, it is possible to perform blur reduction shooting while reducing the chance of pixel addition as much as possible, that is, reducing the risk of image size reduction.

Further, in the electronic camera according to the invention of claim 21, the setting means sets the imaging sensitivity and the exposure time of the imaging means according to the brightness of the subject, and the setting means First setting means for determining whether or not the set exposure time is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the setting means determines that the exposure time is less than the predetermined value as a result of the determination by the first determination means. In this case, it includes a resetting unit that increases the imaging sensitivity and decreases the exposure time accordingly and resets the exposure time, and the exposure time reset by the resetting unit is the predetermined value. Second control means for determining whether the exposure time is above or not, and the control means, when the result of determination by the second determination means is that the exposure time is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the imaging means The above addition process is Make.
Therefore, when the exposure time is less than the predetermined value and blur reduction shooting is possible without performing the sensitization process by the pixel addition process, the pixel addition process is not performed and there is a risk that the image size is reduced. To be prevented.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, when the first mode is set, the predetermined condition for causing the imaging unit to perform addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal is performed. If it is determined that the above condition is satisfied, and if the second mode is set, sensitization processing is performed by pixel addition processing, and accordingly, the exposure time of the imaging unit may be shortened. it can. Therefore, by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur-reduction shooting with reduced camera shake and subject blur. However, even if the first mode is set, if it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the pixel addition process is not executed, so that shooting is performed under a condition that does not require blur correction. In this case, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that the image size is inevitably reduced by pixel addition.

  According to the invention of claim 3, when the first mode is set, a predetermined condition for causing the imaging unit to perform addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal is satisfied. If it is determined that there is, the sensitization process is performed by the pixel addition process, and accordingly, the exposure time of the imaging unit can be shortened. Therefore, by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur-reduction shooting with reduced camera shake and subject blur. However, even if the first mode is set, the pixel addition process is not executed when it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied or when the second mode is set. When shooting is performed under conditions where correction is not necessary, pixel inconvenience can be prevented from being inevitable due to pixel addition.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the sensitization process is performed by the pixel addition process, and accordingly, the exposure time of the imaging unit is shortened. can do. Therefore, by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur-reduction shooting with reduced camera shake and subject blur. Further, if the pixel addition process is performed, the image size is reduced accordingly, but an image having a predetermined image size can be taken by correcting the image size.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the shooting condition corresponding to the selected shooting scene is a predetermined shooting condition, the sensitization process is performed by the pixel addition process. The exposure time of the means can be shortened. Therefore, by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur-reduction shooting with reduced camera shake and subject blur. However, even if other shooting scenes whose shooting conditions are not the predetermined shooting conditions are selected, the pixel addition process is not executed, so when shooting is performed under conditions where blur correction is not necessary, It is possible to prevent the disadvantage that the image size is inevitably reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 10, the pixel addition process is executed only when the detected image blur amount exceeds the allowable blur amount. Therefore, according to the size of the print paper to be printed, blurring of a printed image that is conspicuous with the naked eye can be automatically reduced and photographed only when necessary.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, when the image size is smaller than the designated image size by the pixel addition process, the user is warned to that effect, so that the user can It is possible to recognize that the size is smaller than the designated image size, and it is possible to prevent inconvenience that an image having a small image size is recorded without the user's knowledge.

  According to the fifteenth and sixteenth aspects of the present invention, when pixel addition is performed, the image size is reduced by this, but it can be avoided that the recorded image size is smaller than the designated image size. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the exposure time of the imaging means by sensitizing processing by pixel addition processing and enable blur reduction shooting, while preventing the disadvantage that the recorded image size becomes smaller than the specified image size. Images can be recorded.

  According to the twentieth aspect of the invention, under the condition that the brightness of the subject is equal to or lower than the predetermined brightness and the blur is likely to occur, the pixel addition with a risk of reducing the image size is not performed. First, the exposure time is reduced by increasing the imaging sensitivity, thereby enabling blur reduction photography. However, even if the exposure time is decreased by increasing the imaging sensitivity, the sensitization process by the pixel addition process can be performed at this time as long as the exposure time is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and blurring is likely to occur. As a result, the exposure time of the image pickup means can be shortened, and by reducing the exposure time, it is possible to perform blur-reduction shooting with reduced camera shake and subject blur. Therefore, it is possible to perform blur reduction shooting while reducing the chance of pixel addition as much as possible, that is, reducing the risk of image size reduction.

It is a block diagram which shows the digital camera schematic circuit structure common to each embodiment of this invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific circuit configuration of the digital camera. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure of the example of a display of the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement in various readout modes of CCD, and the vertical & horizontal pixel addition readout mode. It is a timing chart which shows the CCD drive signal at the time of horizontal pixel addition reading scanning. It is a figure which shows the operation example of CCD at the time of horizontal pixel addition reading scanning. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation procedure of the allowable blurring amount in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of calculation of the allowable blurring or allowable image blurring amount according to printing paper size. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the digital camera schematic circuit structure in other embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the pixel addition process in the embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic circuit configuration of a digital camera 1 common to the embodiments. The digital camera 1 includes an imaging control unit 101. The imaging control unit 101 includes a zoom control / AF control unit 102, an exposure setting unit 103, an addition readout mode control unit 104, a sensitivity / gain control unit 105, and an interpolation. Processing control means 106 and interpolation magnification setting means 107 are provided. The zoom control / AF control unit 102 is provided with an output from the distance measuring unit / focus detection unit 108 and an output from the photographing condition setting unit 110, and the exposure setting unit 103 is subjected to photometry from the photometry unit 109. A signal and an output from the photographing condition setting means 110 are provided. The addition readout mode control unit 104 includes a zoom control / AF control unit 102, an exposure setting unit 103, a shooting mode selection unit 111, a sensitivity / gain control unit 105, and an image size / print paper size selection unit 112. Output is given. The sensitivity / gain control means 105 is given an output from the photographing condition setting means 110, and the interpolation magnification setting means 107 is given an output from the image size / printing paper size selection means 112.

  On the other hand, an aperture 121, a shutter 122, and an imaging unit 123 are disposed on the optical axis of the imaging optical system 120. The photographing optical system 120 is driven by an optical system driving unit 124, the diaphragm 121 is driven by a diaphragm driving unit 125, the shutter 122 is driven by a shutter driving unit 126, and the imaging unit 123 is driven by a CCD driving circuit 127. The CCD drive circuit 127 includes a switch 128 that switches between a normal read drive & scan signal and a pixel addition read drive & scan signal. The optical system driving unit 124 is controlled by the zoom control / AF control unit 102. The aperture driving unit 125 and the shutter driving unit 126 operate based on a signal from the exposure setting unit 103. The CCD driving circuit 127 The switch 128 is controlled by the addition reading mode control unit 104.

  The signal processing circuit 129 is a circuit that processes an analog signal from the imaging unit 123 and converts it into a digital signal. The signal processing circuit 129 includes a CDS 130, an Amp 131, an ADC 132, a WB (white balance) control unit 133, and a pixel interpolation processing unit 134. A contour enhancement processing unit 135, a color interpolation unit 136, a γ correction unit 137, a color matrix 138, and a switch 139 for switching between the pixel interpolation processing unit 134 and the contour enhancement processing unit 135. The overall operation of the signal processing circuit 129 is controlled by the CCD drive circuit 127, the Amp 131 is controlled by the sensitivity / gain control means 105, the switch 139 is controlled by the interpolation processing control means 106, and pixel interpolation is performed. The processing unit 134 executes pixel interpolation processing according to the interpolation magnification set by the interpolation magnification setting unit 107. Further, the digital image data from the signal processing circuit 129 is supplied to the image compression / encoding unit 141 via the image buffer memory 140, compressed and encoded, and then recorded on the image recording unit 142. It is configured.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific circuit configuration of the digital camera 1. In the figure, an operation unit 23 is configured by a key group such as a setting key and a release button for setting various modes shown in a flowchart described later. Operation information of these key groups is controlled via an input circuit 24. Input to the unit 25. The control unit 25 is a microcomputer including a CPU and its peripheral circuits, a RAM that is a working memory of the CPU, and the like, and controls each unit.

  The control unit 25 includes a display memory 26, a display drive block 27, an image buffer memory 28, an image signal processing unit 29, a compression encoding / decompression decoding unit 30, a still image / moving image memory 31, a program memory 32, data A memory 33, a memory IF 34, an external I / O interface 35, a communication control block 36, a power supply control block 37, and a photographing control unit 38 are connected. The display memory 26 temporarily stores various display data displayed on the display unit 14. The display drive block 27 drives the display unit 14, and the image buffer memory 28 temporarily stores the image data when processing it.

  The image signal processing unit 29 is a DSP that executes various processes on an image signal taken in by the control unit 25 from an image sensor described later. The compression encoding / decompression decoding unit 30 decompresses the image data processed by the image signal processing unit at the time of recording, and decompresses and decodes the recorded image data at the time of reproduction. The still image / moving image memory 31 records and saves image data (still image data) captured by operating the release button.

  The program memory 32 stores a control program for the control unit 25 shown in the flowchart described later, and also includes an AE, AF, AWB control program, and an aperture value corresponding to an appropriate exposure value (EV) at the time of shooting. Stored are program AE data, an EV value table, and the like constituting a program diagram showing combinations of (F) and shutter speeds. The data memory 33 stores various data in advance and stores data other than image data. The memory IF 34 is connected to a removable external memory medium 39. The external I / O interface 35 is connected to the USB connector 40, the communication control block 36 is connected to the antenna 42 via the wireless LAN transmission / reception unit 41, and the battery 43 is connected to the power control block 37. The electric power from the battery 43 is supplied to each unit via the power control block 37 and the control unit 25.

  The photographing control unit 38 is connected to each irradiation drive unit 44 for driving the irradiation angle of the strobe 6 and a strobe illumination driving unit 45 for driving the irradiation. The light receiving angle driving unit 47 to be driven, the color temperature detecting unit 48 for detecting and outputting the color temperature from the photometric / ranging sensor 46, the photometric unit 49 for detecting and outputting the photometric data, and the distance measuring data are detected and output. A distance measuring unit 50 is connected. Further, in the photographing control unit 38, a first angular velocity sensor 16 for detecting an angular velocity in the vertical direction and a second angular velocity sensor 17 for detecting an angular acceleration in the horizontal direction are provided with angular velocity detecting units 51 and 52 and integrators 53 and 54, respectively. Connected through.

  On the other hand, the zoom lens unit 55 is provided with an image pickup device 20 composed of the rotary mirror 18, the lens group 19, a CCD, and the like, and a drive mechanism 56 that rotationally drives the rotary mirror 18. A diaphragm 57 interposed in the lens group 19 is provided, and a shutter 58 is disposed on the front surface of the image sensor 20.

  The photographing control unit 38 includes an electric mirror Y direction driving unit 59, an electric mirror X direction driving unit 60, a focus lens driving unit 61, a zoom lens driving unit 62, an aperture driving unit 63, a shutter driving unit 64, and a video signal. A processing unit 65 and a timing control & driver 66 are connected. The electric mirror Y direction drive unit 59 drives the drive mechanism 56 to rotate the rotary mirror 18 in the vertical direction, and the electric mirror X direction drive unit 60 rotates in the left-right direction. That is, the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment has vertical and horizontal directions input from the first and second angular velocity sensors 16 and 17 via the angular velocity detectors 51 and 52 and the integrators 53 and 54. Based on the angular velocity, it has an optical camera shake correction function for controlling the photographic optical axis to be kept constant by rotating the rotary mirror 18.

  The focus lens driving unit 61 drives the focus lens in the lens group 19, and the zoom lens driving unit 62 is configured to enlarge or reduce the subject image according to the operation of the zoom operation key 9. The zoom lens is driven. The aperture driving unit 63 drives the aperture 57, and the shutter driving unit 64 drives the shutter 58. The video signal processor 65 is supplied with an A / D circuit that converts an analog signal from the image sensor 20 into a digital signal, a CDS that holds the digital image signal from the A / D circuit, and an image signal from the CDS. It consists of a gain adjustment amplifier (AGC), which is an analog amplifier.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the present embodiment. The control unit 25 executes processing as shown in this flowchart based on the program stored in the program memory 32. First, it is determined whether or not the shooting mode is set by an operation of the operation unit 23 by the user (step S101). If the shooting mode is not set, it is determined whether or not the shooting setting mode is set (step S102). If neither the shooting mode nor the shooting setting mode is set, other mode processing is performed. Transition is made (step S103).

  If the shooting setting mode is set, it is determined whether or not the automatic switching setting is selected (step S104). That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the “shooting setting” mode is selected by operating the MENU key and the cursor key (Δ ▽) on the operation unit 23 (step S102; YES), the display unit 14 displays the same figure (a−). A shooting setting menu screen as shown in 1) is displayed. When “blur reduction shooting” is selected on this menu screen, the automatic switching setting is selected, and the step S104 becomes YES, and the blur reduction shooting setting shown in FIG. Move to the menu.

  When the automatic switching setting is selected, whether or not to automatically switch to blur reduction shooting (ON / OFF) is set in the auto shooting mode in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user ( Step S105). That is, “ON” and “OFF” are displayed together with other choices in the anti-shake shooting value menu of FIG. If “ON” is selected from these options, automatic switching ON is set. If “OFF” is selected, automatic switching OFF is set.

  If it is determined in step S104 that the automatic switching setting is not selected, it is determined whether or not the switching condition setting is selected (step S106). When setting of the switching condition is selected, a shooting condition for automatically switching to blur reduction shooting is selected and set according to the user's operation (step S107).

  That is, if it is determined in step S104 that the automatic switching setting has not been selected, the shooting setting menu shown in FIG. When “Custom setting for blur reduction shooting” is selected from this menu screen, the setting of the switching condition is selected, and step S106 becomes YES, and the custom setting menu for blur reduction shooting of FIG. Move to the display. When “Pixel addition switching condition setting” is selected on this menu screen, a transition is made to the setting menu screen for the switching condition to blur reduction shooting in FIG.

  This setting menu screen for switching to blur reduction shooting is based on "according to shooting scene", "according to exposure time", "according to subject brightness", "according to subject speed", "according to focal length" “In the case of macro photography”, and the like. When any one of these options is selected, for example, “according to the shooting scene” is selected, the screen transits to a switching setting screen corresponding to the shooting scene in FIG. In this state, by selecting a switching condition according to the photographing condition such as “OFF”, “auto”,..., The processing in step S107 is executed, and a photographing condition or the like for automatically switching to blur reduction photographing is selected. Will be set.

  If it is determined in step S106 that the switching condition setting is not selected, other setting processing is executed (step S108).

  On the other hand, when the shooting mode is set, shooting conditions input by the user's operation on the operation unit 23, auto shooting mode, manual shooting mode, various shooting conditions such as shutter speed in each shooting mode, which will be described later. In addition to setting shooting conditions such as blur reduction shooting or intensifying shooting mode, a paper size or an image size is selected based on an operation by the user on the operation unit 23 (step S109). Further, zoom processing and AF processing are executed (step S110), and a through image of the subject image is displayed on the display unit 14 (step S111). Therefore, the user asks for a photo opportunity by adjusting the direction of the digital camera 1 while viewing the through image displayed on the display unit 14.

  On the other hand, the control unit 25 determines whether the release button has been pressed and a shooting instruction has been issued (step S112). If not, other keys corresponding to the key operated by the user on the operation unit 23 are determined. Processing is executed (step S113). When the release button is pressed and there is a shooting instruction, photometric processing and WB processing are performed (step S114), and exposure is performed according to the photometric value obtained thereby and the shooting conditions set in step S109. Conditions are set (step S115).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the auto shooting mode is set (step S116). If it is set, it is determined whether or not automatic switching is ON (step S117). That is, it is determined whether or not “automatic switch to blur reduction shooting in the auto shooting mode” is “ON” by the processing in step S105. If it is “OFF”, the process proceeds to step S119 without executing the process of step S118. If it is “ON”, it is determined whether or not the predetermined photographing condition is set (step S118). That is, in step S107, it is determined whether or not the shooting condition is set to automatically switch to blur reduction shooting set by the user.

  If the shooting condition is not automatically switched to the blur-reduction shooting set by the user, the image sensor 20 is driven in the normal read mode in which the image signal charges of all the pixels of the image sensor 20 are sequentially read (step S119). At the same time, the exposure / photographing operation is started according to the photographing conditions (step S120), and the shutter 58 is opened and the image sensor 20 is exposed by the processing in step S120. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the exposure time corresponding to the shutter speed has ended (step S121), and when the exposure time ends, the exposure / photographing operation is stopped and the shutter 58 is closed (step S122). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the acquired image size acquired by the photographing is larger than the image size selected in step S109 (step S123). If “acquired image size> set image size” and the acquired image size is larger than the set image size, thinning or resizing compression processing is executed (step S124).

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S116 is that the auto shooting mode is not set and another shooting mode such as the manual shooting mode is set, the process proceeds from step S116 to step S125. Then, it is determined by the processing in step S109 whether the blur reduction shooting or the enhancement shooting mode is set (step S125). If the blur reduction shooting or the enhancement shooting mode is not set, The process proceeds to other shooting mode processing (step S126).

  When the blur reduction shooting mode or the intensifying shooting mode is set (step S125; YES), and when the step S118 is YES, the shooting conditions are set so as to automatically switch to the blur reduction shooting set by the user in the step S107. In some cases, the pixel addition magnification of the image sensor 20 is calculated and the exposure time is reset in accordance with the photometric value obtained by the photometric processing in step S114 and the photographing condition set in step S109. (Step S127).

  Next, the imaging device 20 is driven by switching to the vertical & horizontal addition reading mode in which the imaging signal charges of the pixels of the same color in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the imaging device 20 are added and read (step S129). At the same time, the exposure / shooting operation is started according to the shooting conditions (step S129), and the shutter 58 is opened and the image sensor 20 is exposed by the processing in step S129. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the exposure time corresponding to the shutter speed has ended (step S130), and the exposure / photographing operation (step S129) is continued until the exposure time ends.

  Here, the exposure / photographing operation is performed in the vertical & horizontal addition readout mode, so that the image sensor 20 mixes when the signal charges of the same color pixels separated from each other in the same column are transferred from the vertical transfer CCD to the horizontal transfer CCD. In addition to adding, signal charges of pixels of the same color filter separated from each other in the same row are added and read out in the horizontal transfer CCD. Therefore, since signals for a plurality of rows can be output at a time, the frame rate can be increased, and high-resolution moving image shooting can be performed at a high frame rate according to the number of vertical and horizontal additions. When this is applied to still image shooting, the number of pixels becomes vertical ½ × horizontal ½ = 1/4 pixels by four-pixel addition readout of two vertical pixels and two horizontal pixels, but the required exposure amount is also Since a photographic image corresponding to the appropriate exposure can be obtained at about 1/4, it is possible to shoot with a sensitization of about 4 times. That is, since the exposure time required for obtaining an appropriate exposure with a subject under the same conditions can be shortened to about ¼, image blurring due to camera shake or subject blur can be reduced and photographing can be performed.

  Then, when the determination in step S130 is YES and the exposure time ends, the exposure / photographing operation is stopped and the shutter 58 is closed (step S131). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the acquired image size acquired by this shooting is smaller than the image size selected in step S109 (step S132). If “acquired image size <set image size” and the acquired image size is smaller than the set image size, pixel interpolation processing is executed (step S133). Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S123. .

  In step S134 following any of step S133, step S123, or step S124, the captured image is compressed and encoded, and the compressed and encoded captured image is recorded in the external memory medium 39 (step S135). Further, the photographed image is reviewed and displayed on the display unit 14 (step S136).

  Therefore, it goes without saying that when blur reduction shooting or intensifying shooting mode is set, and even when the auto shooting mode is set, the shooting conditions are likely to cause image blur due to camera shake or subject blur. Switch to the sensitized shooting mode for blur reduction by pixel addition readout processing, and the required exposure time can be shortened by the sensitizing effect according to the vertical addition number x horizontal addition number. Since not only image blur but also image blur (moving body blur) due to movement of the subject can be reduced, it is effective for shooting that tends to cause subject blur, such as shooting of children and pets, shooting of sports scenes.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation example of the normal read mode executed in step S119 and the vertical & horizontal addition read mode executed in step S128. In FIG. 2, (a) is an all-pixel readout mode executed as the normal readout mode, and all pixels are read out with a high resolution although it is as low as a fraction of a second. The (b) frame readout mode, (c) high-speed draft mode, (d) 4/16 line readout & vertical pixel addition mode, and (e) 4/18 line readout & horizontal pixel addition mode are executed in step S128. & The operation example of the horizontal addition readout mode. (C) In the high-speed draft mode, only 2 lines out of 8 lines are read out, and the entire area is scanned at a high speed such as 1/30.

  As for the vertical pixel addition read operation, for example, in a solid-state imaging device having a color filter with a repetitive arrangement of two vertical pixel periods as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-55952 and capable of vertical addition read. By the vertical pixel addition reading, a signal obtained by adding the signal charges of the same color separated by two pixels in the vertical direction in the vertical transfer register can be obtained. Similarly, with respect to horizontal pixel addition readout, similarly to the horizontal readout operation in the imaging devices described in JP-A-11-234691, JP-A-11-234688, JP-A-2000-115643, and the like, This can be done by adding and reading pixels of the same color filter in different columns in the same row in the horizontal direction on the horizontal transfer CCD. Combination of vertical and horizontal pixel addition, for example, vertical 2 pixel addition × horizontal 2 pixel addition = 4 pixel addition readout, vertical 3 pixel addition × horizontal 3 pixel addition = 9 pixel addition readout, etc. You can also change this.

  Next, an outline of the horizontal pixel addition reading operation will be described below using the solid-state imaging device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-115643 as an example. FIG. 6A shows a time chart of the drive signal in the normal readout mode, FIG. 6B shows a time chart of the drive signal in the horizontal addition readout mode, and FIG. 7 shows the signal charge of the horizontal pixel addition readout. An example of the state operation is shown below. This solid-state imaging device has a transfer gate portion between a vertical register and a horizontal register, and in this transfer gate portion, the transfer charges of the first phase and the second phase are staggered for every fixed column of the vertical register. The transfer electrode of the vertical register and the transfer electrode of the transfer gate portion are formed in a two-layer structure, and the signal charge can be separately transferred to the horizontal register for each fixed column unit of the vertical register. The signal charges that are operated and transferred separately can be mixed in the horizontal register.

  Further, charge transfer is performed so that the number of transfers in the vertical register is periodically different with respect to the vertical register column, and signal charges of pixels of the same color separated from each other in the same row are sequentially transferred from the vertical register to the horizontal register. After the signal charge of the pixel transferred to the horizontal register is transferred in the horizontal register, it is added to the signal charge of the same color pixel transferred to the horizontal register later. Signal charges of pixels of the same color separated from each other in the same row can be added in the horizontal register.

  In the normal read operation, the four-phase drive pulses φV1 to φV4 as shown in FIG. 6A are applied to the input terminals tV1 to tV4 of the vertical CCD register, and the input terminals tV′1 to tV′4 are separately provided. The four-phase drive pulses φV′1 to φV′4 are applied. The electrode group to which the drive pulses φV′1 to φV′4 are applied performs transfer twice as many times as the electrode group to which the drive pulses φV1 to φV4 are applied.

  Therefore, signal charges are sequentially sent from the electrode group to which the drive pulses φV1 to φV4 are applied to the electrode group to which the drive pulses φV′1 to φV′4 are applied, whereas the drive pulses φV′1 to φV′4 are applied. In the electrode group, the signal charges are transferred in the horizontal CCD register direction so that there are signal charge packets and empty packets.

  Now, it is assumed that the charge on the jth row is transferred from the electrode group to which the driving pulses φV1 to φV4 are applied to the electrode group to which the driving pulses φV′1 to φV′4 are applied through the second transfer period T3. On the other hand, since the electrode group to which the drive pulses φV1 to φV4 are applied has the first transfer period T2 in addition to the second transfer period T3, the horizontal CCD registers [1] and [2] and the vertical CCD register [3] [4], the difference in the number of packets is absorbed, and the signal charges in the j-th row accumulated in the horizontal scanning period T1 can be transferred to the horizontal CCD register.

That is, in the first transfer period T2 of the horizontal blanking period H _BLK , the jth signal charge in the vertical CCD registers [1] and [2] is transferred to the horizontal CCD register, and the vertical CCD registers [3] and [4]. The signal charges in the jth row are vertically transferred by one packet to the last stage of the horizontal CCD register. Next, in the second transfer period T3, the J-th signal charge in the vertical CCD registers [3] and [4] is transferred to the horizontal CCD register and the vertical CCD registers [1], [2] and [3]. , [4] signal charges on the (j−1) th row are transferred to the vertical CCD register. Therefore, in the normal read operation, the signal charges in the first row are sequentially output.

  In the horizontal pixel addition operation, four-phase drive pulses φV1 to φV4 as shown in FIG. 6B are applied to the input terminals tV1 to tV4 of the vertical CCD register, and four phases are applied to the input terminals tV′1 to tV′4. Drive pulses φV′1 to φV′4 are applied. In addition, two-phase drive pulses φH1 and φH2 are applied to the vertical CCD register.

The state of the signal charge in FIG. 7 and the drive pulse in FIG.
1) First, the end of the horizontal scanning period T1 in FIG. 6B corresponds to FIG.
2) Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, in the first period T2 of the horizontal blanking period _HBLK , the signal charges of the vertical CCD registers [1] and [2] are transferred to the horizontal CCD register. At the same time, the signal charges in the vertical CCD registers [3] and [4] are vertically transferred to the final stage to the vertical CCD register.
3) Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, in the second period T2, two packets are transferred by the horizontal CCD register, and the signal charges separated in the direction of the two pixels in the same row are the same. Moved to a column.
4) Next, as shown in FIG. 7D, in the third period T4, the signal charges at the final stage of the vertical CCD registers [3] and [4] are transferred to the horizontal CCD register by vertical transfer. Are added to the signals of the vertical CCD registers [1] and [2] transferred to the horizontal CCD register. That is, signal charges separated in the column direction by two pixels in the same row in the horizontal CCD register are added. At the same time, the signal charges of the next row are transferred from the vertical CCD registers [1] and [2] to the empty packet of the horizontal CCD register.
5) Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7E, in the fourth period T5, two packets are transferred in the horizontal CCD register, and the signal charges separated in the direction of the two pixels in the next row are transferred. Are moved to the same column.
6) Next, as shown in FIG. 7F, in the fifth period T6, it is added to the signal charges of the vertical CCD registers [1] and [2] by vertical transfer.

  That is, signal charges separated in the column direction by two pixels in the next row in the horizontal CCD register are added. As a result, two rows of signal charges obtained by adding two pixels in the horizontal direction are accumulated in the horizontal CCD register. Therefore, in the horizontal scanning period T1, the horizontal CCD register is driven in two phases and the horizontal scanning is performed once, so that a signal for two digits is output from the output terminal of the CCD solid-state imaging device. When a color filter having a horizontal two-pixel cycle is used for such a color CCD solid-state imaging device, even-numbered and odd-numbered columns of pixels in each row have the same color, so no color mixing occurs even if they are mixed. . Further, by adding and mixing signal charges that are two pixels apart in the horizontal direction, the data rate in the horizontal direction can be reduced to ½. Thereby, operation can be performed at high speed. In addition, since the signal of the entire pixel in the image area is mixed, the angle of view does not change even if the number of data in the horizontal direction is halved.

  The horizontal direction N2 pixel addition has been described above. However, addition of two horizontal pixels or more is also possible. In addition, by combining with the above-described vertical pixel addition readout operation, readout scanning with various addition magnifications can be performed by switching both the vertical and horizontal addition numbers, such as vertical 2 pixel × horizontal 2 pixel addition = 4 pixel addition readout. Yes. Needless to say, the vertical and horizontal pixel addition reading may be performed using an imaging device having a configuration different from that of the solid-state imaging device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-115643, such as a transfer path and a transfer gate electrode. Absent.

  (Second Embodiment)

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the second embodiment of the present invention. First, it is determined whether or not the auto shooting mode or the blur reduction shooting mode is set by an operation of the operation unit 23 by the user (step S201). If the auto shooting mode or the blur reduction shooting mode is not set, the process proceeds to other shooting mode processing (step S202).

  When the auto shooting mode or the blur reduction shooting mode is set, shooting conditions such as a shutter speed are set, and the paper size or the image size is selected according to the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user. (Step S203). Further, zoom processing and AF processing are executed, lens focal length information (f) is read (step S204), and a through image of the subject image is displayed on the display unit 14 (step S205). Therefore, the user asks for a photo opportunity by adjusting the direction of the digital camera 1 while viewing the through image displayed on the display unit 14.

  On the other hand, the control unit 25 determines whether the release button has been pressed and a shooting instruction has been issued (step S206). If not, other keys corresponding to the key operated by the user on the operation unit 23 are determined. Processing is executed (step S207). When the release button is pressed and there is a shooting instruction, photometric processing and WB processing are performed (step S208), and exposure is performed according to the photometric value obtained thereby and the shooting conditions set in step S203. Conditions are set (step S209).

next,
(1) Whether the focal length (f) read in step S204 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (step S210)
(2) Whether or not macro shooting is performed (step S211)
(3) Whether the photometric value obtained in step S208 is less than a predetermined value (step S212)
(4) Whether the flash is forcibly turned off when the photometric value is less than the predetermined value (step S213)
(5) Whether the set exposure time set in step S214 exceeds a predetermined time (step S214)
(6) Whether the WB setting by the WB process in step S208 is a light bulb or a fluorescent lamp (indoor certification) (step S215)
Judging.

  If all the determinations (1) to (6) are NO, the image sensor 20 is driven in the normal read mode in which the image signal charges of all the pixels of the image sensor 20 are sequentially read (step S216). At the same time, an exposure / photographing operation is started according to the photographing conditions (step S217), and the shutter 58 is opened by the processing in step S217, and the image sensor 20 is exposed. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the exposure time corresponding to the shutter speed has ended (step S218). When the exposure time ends, the exposure / photographing operation is stopped and the shutter 58 is closed (step S219). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the acquired image size acquired by this shooting is larger than the image size selected in step S203 (step S220). If “acquired image size> set image size” and the acquired image size is larger than the set image size, thinning or resizing compression processing is executed (step S221).

  On the other hand, if at least one of the determinations (1) to (6) is YES, according to the photometric value obtained by the photometric process in step S208 and the photographing condition set in step S203. The pixel addition magnification of the image sensor 20 is calculated, and the exposure time is reset (step S222).

  Next, the imaging device 20 is driven by switching to the vertical & horizontal addition reading mode in which the imaging signal charges of the pixels of the same color in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the imaging device 20 are added and read (step S223). At the same time, the exposure / shooting operation is started according to the shooting conditions (step S224), and the shutter 58 is opened and the image sensor 20 is exposed by the processing in step S224. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the exposure time corresponding to the shutter speed has ended (step S225), and the exposure / photographing operation (step S224) is continued until the exposure time ends.

  Then, when the determination in step S225 is YES and the exposure time is finished, the exposure / photographing operation is stopped and the shutter 58 is closed (step S226). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the acquired image size acquired by the photographing is smaller than the image size selected in step S203 (step S227). If “acquired image size <set image size” and the acquired image size is smaller than the set image size, pixel interpolation processing is executed (step S228). Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S220. .

  In step S229 following either step S228, step S220, or step S221, the captured image is compressed and encoded, and the compressed and encoded captured image is recorded in the external memory medium 39 (step S230). Further, the photographed image is reviewed and displayed (step S231).

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sensitization mode for automatically reducing the blur is automatically obtained in a shooting condition in which camera shake is likely to occur when at least one of the determinations (1) to (6) is YES. Since the effective exposure time can be shortened by sensitization processing by pixel addition readout, image blur due to camera shake can be reduced. In addition, since the pixel interpolation process is performed only when there is little noise and the image size is smaller than the desired image size, the desired image size can be reliably obtained.

In the present embodiment, as the predetermined photographing conditions, the above (1) to (6) are determined, and when at least one is YES, pixel addition reading is performed. The conditions of a), (b) and (c) may be used.
(A) When the focal length of the imaging lens is longer than a predetermined value, or
(B) in macro (close-up) mode, or
(C) When the amount of camera shake or the amount of image blur is detected and it is determined that the detected amount of camera shake or the amount of image blur is greater than the predetermined amount of camera shake or image blur.

  Alternatively, in the shooting mode such as “auto shooting mode” or “blur reduction shooting mode”, when the subject state is a predetermined condition, the mode is automatically switched to “shooting mode by pixel addition readout” and the exposure time Is reset according to the number of additions, and when the recorded image size is smaller than the set image size, the captured image data is subjected to pixel interpolation processing and then recorded.

The predetermined subject is, for example, (d) when an exposure value or subject luminance detected from a photometric sensor or an imaging signal is lower than a predetermined value and the strobe light emission is forcibly turned off, or
(E) When the exposure time (shutter speed) set automatically based on the photometric value or the exposure time (shutter speed) set by manual exposure is longer (slower) than the predetermined exposure time, or
(F) When the moving speed of the subject or the right side of the latitude of the subject image accompanying the subject movement is detected or input, and it is determined that the amount of image movement due to the subject movement during the set exposure time is greater than a predetermined value or an allowable circle of confusion Or
(G) In a dark room or electric lighting, such as when the white balance is set or the automatic white balance control by color temperature detection is set to a proof using a fluorescent lamp or tungsten light bulb or a color temperature equivalent to it. If it is determined that the subject is below,
Etc.

  In the above-described subject state and shooting conditions, the brightness of a dark subject or subject is low, and the exposure time (shutter speed) under appropriate exposure conditions tends to be long (slow), so subject blur is likely to occur. Alternatively, subject movement is fast with respect to the exposure time, and subject blurring tends to occur. Even under shooting conditions that tend to cause image blur due to the movement of the subject (moving body blur), the camera automatically switches to a sensitized shooting mode to reduce blur, and sensitization processing by pixel addition readout enables shooting sensitivity. In addition to camera shake, image blur due to subject blur (moving subject blur) can also be reduced.

  (Third embodiment)

  9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a program shooting mode for each shooting scene, or a mode (BS (best shot) in which shooting scenes and shooting methods can be selected from a menu with explanatory text and representative sample images attached thereto. Mode), if a predetermined shooting scene that is determined to be likely to cause camera shake or subject blur is set according to the set shooting scene, blur reduction shooting / sensitization by pixel addition readout is performed. It controls to automatically switch to shooting.

  That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not the auto shooting mode or the shooting scene-specific program mode is set by the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user (step S301). If the auto shooting mode or the program mode for each shooting scene is not set, the process proceeds to other shooting mode processing (step S302).

  In addition, when the auto shooting mode or the shooting scene-specific program mode is set, shooting conditions such as a shutter speed are set, and a shooting scene is set according to the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user. A size or an image size is selected (step S303). That is, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10F, according to the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user on the display unit 14, the shooting scene and the sample image of the representative example thereof are switched and displayed. If the shooting scene is selected, this is set.

  10A to 10F are stored in the program memory 32 in advance. Also, (A) is for children, (B) is for pets, (C) is for candlelight (indoor), (D) is for parties (indoors), and (E) is for sports. , (F) corresponds to a shooting scene-specific program suitable for close-up shooting of flowers or the like.

  Next, zoom processing and AF processing are executed (step S304), and a through image of the subject image is displayed on the display unit 14 (step S305). Next, it is determined whether or not a shooting instruction has been made by pressing the release button (step S306). If not, other key processing corresponding to the key operated by the user on the operation unit 23 is executed (step S306). Step S307). When the release button is pressed and there is a shooting instruction, photometric processing and WB processing are performed (step S308), and exposure is performed according to the photometric value obtained thereby and the shooting conditions set in step S303. Conditions are set (step S309).

Next, the shooting scene (BS mode) set in step S303 is
(1) Child / pet photography scene (step S310)
(2) Candlelight (indoor) shooting scene (step S311)
(3) Party (indoor) shooting scene (step S312)
(4) Sports shooting scene (step S313)
(5) Close-up photography such as flowers (step S314)
It is determined whether or not.

  If all of these determinations (1) to (5) are NO, that is, the set scenes are “children and pets shooting scenes” “candlelight (indoor) shooting scenes” “” party ( In the case of any scene other than “indoor) shooting scene”, “sport shooting scene”, “close-up shooting of flowers, etc.”, the normal readout mode is used to sequentially read the imaging signal charges of all the pixels of the imaging device 20. The image sensor 20 is driven (step S315). At the same time, an exposure / photographing operation is started according to the set scene and photographing conditions (step S316), and the shutter 58 is opened and the image sensor 20 is exposed by the processing in step S316. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the exposure time corresponding to the shutter speed has ended (step S317). When the exposure time ends, the exposure / photographing operation is stopped and the shutter 58 is closed (step S318). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the acquired image size acquired by this shooting is larger than the image size selected in step S303 (step S319). If “acquired image size> set image size” and the acquired image size is larger than the set image size, thinning or resizing compression processing is executed (step S320).

  On the other hand, if any one of the determinations (1) to (5) is YES, the photometric value obtained by the photometric processing in step S308, the photographing condition set in step S303, and the photographing scene Accordingly, the pixel addition magnification of the image sensor 20 is calculated, and the exposure time is reset (step S321).

  Next, the imaging device 20 is driven by switching to the vertical & horizontal addition reading mode in which the imaging signal charges of the pixels of the same color in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the imaging device 20 are added and read (step S322). At the same time, the exposure / shooting operation is started according to the set shooting scene and the set shooting conditions (step S323), and the shutter 58 is opened and the image sensor 20 is exposed by the processing in step S323. . Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the exposure time corresponding to the shutter speed has ended (step S324), and the exposure / photographing operation (step S323) is continued until the exposure time ends.

  Then, when the determination in step S324 is YES and the exposure time ends, the exposure / photographing operation is stopped and the shutter 58 is closed (step S325). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the acquired image size acquired by this shooting is smaller than the image size selected in step S303 (step S326). If “acquired image size <set image size” and the acquired image size is smaller than the set image size, pixel interpolation processing is executed (step S327). Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S319.

  In step S328 following any of step S327, step S319, or step S320, the captured image is compressed and encoded, and the compressed and encoded captured image is recorded in the external memory medium 39 (step S329). Further, the photographed image is reviewed and displayed (step S330).

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, in the case of a shooting scene in which the subject is dark, the exposure time is long, a camera shake or a motion blur is likely to occur, or a shooting scene that requires sensitization processing is automatically performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to make detailed settings such as the setting mode as in the first embodiment described above, and the user desires. Depending on the shooting scene and the scene of the subject selected by the user, it is possible to automatically reduce image blur due to camera shake and other blurs or to perform intensifying shooting when necessary. The user can easily reduce image blurring or perform intensifying shooting only by selecting a shooting scene and automatically when necessary.

  In the present embodiment, FIGS. 10A to 10F are shown as scenes for driving the image sensor in the additive readout mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a night scene shooting scene (a dark subject, Scenes that you want to shoot with the flash off because it is a distant view), people who take pictures of people in the night and the background (you want to shoot both a close-up view and a distant view that the flash does not reach), fireworks shooting scenes (I want to sensitize, but I want to suppress noise generation) (Shooting scenes), etc., because exposure time is long for dark subjects, so it is basic to shoot with a tripod, etc., but even in scenes where you want to shoot while suppressing the generation of noise that increases when shooting sensitivity is increased (equivalent to ISO) (Sensitivity etc.) It is also possible to automatically switch to intensifying shooting by pixel addition reading without increasing the shooting sensitivity so much. Also, a shooting scene program dedicated to blur reduction shooting or high sensitivity shooting may be provided.

  In addition, in each shooting scene, other shooting conditions such as exposure program selection, metering method, focus control method, flash on / off / auto, etc., are set according to the set shooting control program for each shooting scene. Automatically set settings, contour enhancement processing, color filter processing, etc., or combine with sensitivity enhancement by increasing sensitivity such as ISO equivalent sensitivity to perform blur reduction / sensitization photography by pixel addition readout Also good. In addition, it is preferable to automatically switch the number of additions (addition magnification) of imaging by pixel addition reading and its limit range, or the magnification and limit range of pixel interpolation processing according to the set shooting scene. Further, the distribution ratio between the shooting sensitivity increase and the sensitization processing by pixel addition reading may be switched according to the shooting scene. Shooting scenes can be selected from scenes selected by the user using the mode switch or menu operation, or in the camera control circuit, and scene discrimination is made based on shooting conditions, subject brightness and tone distribution, subject distance, composition layout, etc. It may be a scene set by a shooting program or the like.

  (Fourth embodiment)

  11 to 13 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a desired print paper type or print paper size (dimension) set or a print paper size (dimension) corresponding to the set image size (vertical x horizontal number of pixels) is used. When an allowable blur amount such as a predetermined blur amount or image blur amount is set, and the detected blur amount or image blur amount is larger than the predetermined blur amount or image blur amount, pixel addition reading is automatically performed. Switch to the mode, drive the image sensor, perform sensitization shooting processing to reduce blur by pixel addition readout, and set the exposure time set to a shortened exposure time according to the number of pixel addition To control. When the image size of the captured image is smaller than the set image size, control is performed so that the captured image data can be recorded after performing pixel interpolation processing.

  First, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not the auto shooting mode or the blur reduction shooting mode is set by the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user (step S401). If the auto shooting mode or the blur reduction shooting mode is not set, the process proceeds to other shooting mode processing (step S402). When the auto shooting mode or the blur reduction shooting mode is set, shooting conditions such as a shutter speed are set, and the paper size or the image size is selected according to the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user. (Step S403).

  Next, zoom processing and AF processing are executed (step S404), and a through image of the subject image is displayed on the display unit 14 (step S405). Next, it is determined whether or not a shooting instruction has been made by pressing the release button (step S406). If not, other key processing corresponding to the key operated on the operation unit 23 by the user is executed (step S406). Step S407). When the release button is pressed and there is a shooting instruction, photometric processing and WB processing are performed (step S408), and exposure is performed according to the photometric value obtained thereby and the shooting conditions set in step S403. Conditions are set (step S409).

Further, an allowable blur amount, an allowable blur speed, etc. are calculated according to the selected printing paper or image size and the exposure time obtained in step S409 (step S410), and the blurring in the digital camera 1 is calculated. The amount or the image blur amount is detected (step S411). Next, based on the allowable blur amount, allowable blur speed, etc. calculated in step S410 and the blur amount or image blur amount detected in step S411,
(1) Image blur amount at set exposure time> predetermined image blur amount (step S412)
(2) Image moving speed> predetermined moving speed (step S413)
(3) Blur amount (angle)> predetermined blur amount (step S414)
(4) Blur angular velocity> predetermined blur angle (step S415)
It is determined whether or not.

  If all of the determinations (1) to (4) are NO, that is, the image blur amount, the image moving speed, the blur amount (angle), and the blur angular velocity in the set exposure time are all below the allowable values. The image pickup device 20 is driven in the normal read mode in which the image pickup signal charges of all the pixels of the image pickup device 20 are sequentially read (step S416). At the same time, an exposure / photographing operation is started according to the set scene and photographing conditions (step S417), and the shutter 58 is opened and the image sensor 20 is exposed by the processing in step S417. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the exposure time corresponding to the shutter speed has ended (step S418). When the exposure time ends, the exposure / photographing operation is stopped and the shutter 58 is closed (step S419). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the acquired image size acquired by the photographing is larger than the image size selected in step S403 (step S420). If “acquired image size> set image size” and the acquired image size is larger than the set image size, thinning or resizing compression processing is executed (step S421).

  On the other hand, if any of the determinations (1) to (4) is YES, according to the photometric value obtained by the photometric process in step S408 and the photographing condition set in step S403, The pixel addition magnification of the image sensor 20 is calculated, and the exposure time is reset (step S422).

  Next, the image pickup device 20 is driven by switching to the vertical & horizontal addition read mode in which the image pickup signal charges of the pixels of the same color in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the image pickup device 20 are added and read (step S423). At the same time, the exposure / shooting operation is started according to the set shooting scene and the set shooting conditions (step S424), and the shutter 58 is opened and the image sensor 20 is exposed by the processing in step S424. . Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the exposure time corresponding to the shutter speed has ended (step S425), and the exposure / photographing operation (step S424) is continued until the exposure time ends.

  Then, when the determination in step S425 is YES and the exposure time is finished, the exposure / photographing operation is stopped and the shutter 58 is closed (step S426). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the acquired image size acquired by this shooting is smaller than the image size selected in step S403 (step S427). If “acquired image size <set image size” and the acquired image size is smaller than the set image size, pixel interpolation processing is executed (step S427). Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S420.

  In step S429 following either step S428, step S420, or step S421, the captured image is compressed and encoded, and the compressed and encoded captured image is recorded in the external memory medium 39 (step S430). Further, the photographed image is reviewed and displayed (step S431).

  In this embodiment, in step S410, allowable values such as an allowable blur amount and an allowable blur speed are calculated according to the selected print paper or image size and exposure time. A certain allowable value may be automatically set according to the image size.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure for calculating the allowable image blur amount (image displacement amount), the allowable image blur speed (image moving speed), the allowable blur amount (angle), the allowable blur angular velocity, etc. executed in step S410. . First, the set print paper size (diagonal S) and imaging size (diagonal Y) are read (step S451). Next, it is determined whether or not the printed image is observed from the diagonal equivalent distance of the paper (step S452). If so, an allowable blur amount (allowable confusion circle diameter) δ is set according to the imaging size Y using the following exemplary equation (step S453).
(Example) Allowable blur δ = Y × tan (2′40 ″)

Also, if the determination in step S452 is NO and the observation is made from a constant clear vision distance, the allowable blur amount ( An allowable circle of confusion diameter δ is set (step S454).
(Example) Allowable blur δ = (Y / S) × 250 [mm] tan (2′40 ″)

Next, the set exposure time (T) and the lens focal length information (f) are read (step S455), and the following equation is used, and according to the allowable blur δ, the lens focal length f, and the set exposure time T (seconds). Thus, the allowable image blur amount, the allowable blur amount (or the apparent moving speed of the subject), and the allowable blur angular velocity (or the apparent moving speed of the subject) are calculated.
(Example)
Allowable blur amount (image displacement amount) = δB≈δ,
Allowable image blur speed (image moving speed) VB = δB / T≈δ / T,
Allowable blur amount (angle) θS = 2 × tan ⁻¹ (δB / 2f),
Allowable blur angular velocity ωS = θS / T

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating calculation examples of the print paper size, its allowable blur, and allowable blur. When the type of printing paper or the size (dimension) of the printing paper is selected, the image size (horizontal × vertical pixel) that provides the required resolution according to the printing resolution (dpi) of the printer device, the display resolution of the image monitor device, etc. Number). On the other hand, when the image size is selected, for example, 200 dpi, 300 dpi, or the like can be determined by calculating the limit of the print paper size that provides a sufficient resolution according to the printing resolution (dpi) of the printing apparatus.

For example, to calculate a sufficient image size from the print paper size:
(A) For borderless printing,
Horizontal (or vertical) image size = horizontal (or vertical) paper size (mm) × printing resolution (dpi) /25.4 (mm / inch), or
(B) In the case of printing with margins on the top, bottom, left and right,
Horizontal (or vertical) image size = {horizontal (or vertical) paper size (mm) −2 × margin size (mm) × printing resolution (dpi) /25.4 (mm / inch) Yes, and vice versa.

Further, the allowable image blur amount can be calculated based on, for example, the size of allowable blur (allowable circle of confusion). The 35mm-size silver salt film uses a permissible blur of about 0.033mm, but there are several ways of thinking about the permissible blur when using an image sensor such as a CCD of a digital camera or changing the print size. is there. In general, the ability to distinguish small objects with the naked eye is about 1 minute (1 ') in angle, but for subjects that change continuously, such as photos, a slightly loose angle 2-3 minutes ( It is said that it is about 2 'to 3'), and smaller ones are not seen to be blurred and look sharp.
1) Considering this as a reference, when observing a photograph or photographic paper from a distance of 25 cm with the naked eye, 0.15-0.22 mm (250 mm × tan (2 ′)-250 mm) × tan (3 ′) It will not be noticed that it is blurred to the human eye up to about blur.
2) On the other hand, there is a concept that it is natural to view a photograph from a distance corresponding to the diagonal dimension of the paper, for example, depending on its size. On the basis of this, with a cut paper with a diagonal of 27 cm, which is close to the clear viewing distance, a blur of about 0.2 mm is allowed, and the enlargement ratio from the 35 mm size to the eight size is 6 times. For this reason, 002 ÷ 6 = 0.033 mm is adopted as an allowable blur (permissible circle of confusion) of a general 35 mm (36 × 24 mm) film.

  In the method of 2), conversely, the permissible circle of confusion within a predetermined angle (2 ′ to 3 ′) may be used in accordance with the size of the film or the image sensor, regardless of the paper size and the enlargement ratio. Although it is convenient for conversion, rougher focus, blurring and blurring are allowed as the printing paper and enlargement ratio are larger.

Also,
1) Allowable blur when observing a distance corresponding to the paper size (diagonal) regardless of the printing paper is a predetermined value (for example, an angle corresponding to 35 mm = 0 ° 02′40 ″) or less. When setting,
Allowable confusion circle diameter δ [mm] on the image plane
= {Image size diagonal (Y) / print paper size diagonal (S)} × print paper size diagonal S [mm] × tan (2′40 ″),
= Image size diagonal (Y) [mm] x tan (2'40 ") is calculated, and allowable blur can be set.
2) For any paper size, when observing from a constant clear viewing distance (about 25 cm), the allowable circle of confusion δ [mm] on the imaging surface
= {Image size diagonal (Y) / printing paper size diagonal (S)} × clear viewing distance (250 mm) × tan (2′40 ″)
And the allowable blur can be set based on this.
3) Alternatively, the allowable confusion circle diameter δ [mm] may be set to a desired and arbitrary value by the user.

Further, if the allowable image blur amount δB is substantially equal to the allowable confusion circle diameter δ, the allowable moving speed VB, the allowable blur amount (or the apparent moving angle of the subject) θS, and the permissible exposure time T The blur angular velocity (or the apparent moving angular velocity of the subject) ωS is the allowable blur (allowable confusion circle diameter) δ [mm] on the imaging surface calculated above, the photographing lens focal length f [mm], and the set exposure time. From T [seconds]
Allowable blur amount (image displacement amount) δB≈δ,
Allowable image moving speed VB = δB / T≈δ / T,
Allowable blurring amount (or apparent movement angle of the subject) θS = 2 × tan ⁻¹ (δB / 2f),
Allowable blur angular velocity (or apparent moving angular velocity of the subject) ωS = θS / T,
It can be calculated and set.

Alternatively, when the subject distance L is known by macro photography or the like, the subject range X = image size Y × L / f.
Allowable displacement XB of subject blur or camera shake = allowable image blur amount δB × L / f,
Acceptable subject movement speed VB = XB / T≈δB × L / (f × T),
Etc.

  These may be set as a predetermined blur amount or image blur amount according to the printing paper in the present embodiment, and the switching condition to the blur reduction photographing / sensitization photographing mode by pixel addition reading may be determined.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, an allowable image blur amount, an allowable blur amount, and the like are set according to a user-desired print paper size or image size, and accordingly, a shift to a blur reduction shooting mode by pixel addition readout is performed. Since the switching condition is set, it is possible to perform the necessary and sufficient blur reduction shooting that does not stand out in accordance with the size at the time of viewing, so that it is possible to minimize image quality degradation due to interpolation processing or the like.

  (Fifth embodiment)

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. First, it is determined whether or not the blur reduction shooting mode or the sensitization shooting mode is set by the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user (step S501). If the blur reduction shooting mode or the sensitization shooting mode is not set, the process proceeds to other shooting mode processing (step S502). In addition, an image size (x, y) or a desired print paper size is selected in accordance with the user's operation on the operation unit 23 (step S503), and the optimum image size for the selected image size or paper size. (Step S504). Furthermore, shooting conditions such as a shutter speed are set, and a pixel addition number (M × N) is selected according to the shooting conditions (step S505).

Further, the read image size (horizontal) X ′ and the read image size (vertical) Y ′ are calculated using the following equations (step S506).
Read image size (horizontal) X ′ = captured image size (horizontal) X ÷ horizontal addition number M,
Read image size (vertical) Y ′ = captured image size (vertical) Y ÷ vertical addition number N

  Next, it is determined whether or not the read image size (X ′, Y ′) is equal to or larger than the set image size (x, y) (step S507), and the read image size (X ′, Y ′) ≧ the set image size. In the case of (x, y), the vertical and horizontal addition readout mode is set, in which the imaging signal charges of the pixels of the same color in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the imaging element 20 are added and read, and the imaging element 20 is driven. In addition, the pixel addition number (M, N) is set (step S508). Further, the exposure time is reset according to the addition number (M × N) (step S509). Then, an exposure / photographing operation is performed according to the reset exposure time and set photographing conditions, and a pixel addition reading process is executed (step S510).

  On the other hand, if the determination in step S507 is NO and the read image size (X ′, Y ′) <the set image size (x, y), a warning is displayed and the image size is insufficient or is interpolated. Is displayed (step S511), and an input request prompt for whether or not to perform interpolation processing is displayed (Yes / No) to wait for input (step S512). By the processing in steps S511 and S512, a screen as illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B is displayed on the display unit.

  In this state, it is determined whether or not an input of “Yes” interpolation processing OK has been received (step S513). If there is, the vertical & horizontal addition readout mode is set to read out by adding the imaging signal charges of the pixels of the same color in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the imaging device 20 to drive the imaging device 20 and add the pixels. A number (M, N) is set (step S514). Further, the exposure time is reset according to the addition number (M × N) (step S515). Then, an exposure / photographing operation is performed according to the reset exposure time and set photographing conditions, and a pixel addition reading process is executed (step S516), and then a pixel interpolation process is executed (step S517).

  On the other hand, if the determination in step S513 is NO and there is no input of interpolation processing OK, the number of pixel additions is reduced (M ← M−1, N ← N−1) or the image size (x, y) is set to a size smaller by one step (step S518). Further, it is determined whether or not the size has been reduced to M ≦ 1, N ≦ 1, or the minimum image size (step S519). If M ≦ 1, N ≦ 1, or the minimum image size is not reached, the read image size (X ′, Y ′) is calculated by X ′ = X ÷ M, Y ′ = Y ÷ N (step S520). ), It is determined whether the read image size (X ′, Y ′) based on the calculation result is equal to or larger than the set image size (x, y) (step S521). If the read image size (X ′, Y ′) ≧ the set image size (x, y), the process proceeds to step S508 described above.

  However, if read image size (X ′, Y ′) <set image size (x, y), the processing from step S518 is repeated. As a result, if M ≦ 1, N ≦ 1, or the minimum image size has been reached (step S519; YES), the normal readout mode (without addition) for sequentially reading the imaging signal charges of all the pixels of the imaging device 20 ) (Step S522), the normal exposure time is set (step S523), exposure / shooting operation is performed according to the set exposure time and set shooting conditions, and normal read processing is executed (step S524). "). In step S525 following any of step S524, step S510, or step S517, the captured image is compressed and encoded, and the compressed and encoded captured image is recorded in the external memory medium 39 (step S526).

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when switching to pixel addition readout and performing blur reduction / sensitization shooting,
1) When the recorded image size is reduced to a size smaller than the set image size by addition reading, a warning is given in advance that the recorded image size becomes smaller than the set image size, and pixel readout is performed. A prompt (input request) is displayed to inquire the user whether or not, and when OK (affirmative response) is input, shooting is performed in addition reading mode, and when NO (negative response) is input, Images can be taken in the normal readout mode.
2) Or, when shooting in the pixel addition readout mode, if interpolation processing is necessary to obtain the user-set image size, a warning is given in advance that pixel interpolation processing must be performed, and pixel interpolation is performed. Prompts are displayed to inquire the user whether or not to execute the process, and if an OK response is input, the image data captured in the additive readout mode is subjected to pixel interpolation processing and enlarged to the set image size. Can be recorded from. If a NO response is input, control is performed so that the number of additions is reduced until the pixel interpolation process is no longer necessary, or the recording size is set to a smaller value until no pixel interpolation is required, and the image is captured. Thus, it is possible to perform desired sensitization photography without performing pixel interpolation processing.

  Therefore, it is possible to shoot after confirming the risk of image quality degradation due to image size reduction or pixel interpolation processing, and if the user sensitizes but dislikes image quality degradation due to pixel interpolation, avoid interpolation processing You can also shoot.

  (Sixth embodiment)

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, when switching to pixel addition readout and performing blur reduction / sensitization shooting, the limit of the number of pixel additions is calculated according to the ratio between the captured image size and the set image size. In the case of interpolation processing OK, the limit of the number of additions is set to be large, and when the number of additions exceeds the limit, the number of additions is reduced, and pixel addition is performed within the range of the pixel addition number. This enables shooting by reading.

  First, it is determined whether or not the blur reduction shooting mode or the sensitization shooting mode is set by the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user (step S601). If the blur reduction shooting mode or the sensitization shooting mode is not set, the process proceeds to other shooting mode processing (step S602). When the blur reduction shooting mode or the sensitization shooting mode is set, the image size (x, y) or a desired printing paper size is selected according to the operation by the user on the operation unit 23. (Step S603), the selected image size or the optimum image size for the paper size is set (Step S604).

Next, an addition limit (horizontal) Mmax and an addition limit (vertical) Nmax are calculated using the following equations (step S605).
Addition limit (horizontal) Mmax = captured image size horizontal (X) ÷ set image size horizontal (x)
Addition limit (vertical) Nmax = captured image size vertical (Y) ÷ set image size vertical (y)

  In addition, it is determined whether or not the pixel interpolation process is set to ON (usable) in advance by an operation on the operation unit 23 by the user (step S606). The process proceeds to step S608 without performing the process of step S607. Further, when ON (usable), the addition limit (horizontal) Mmax and the addition limit (vertical) Nmax are changed to “α * Mmax” and “α * Nmax” which are larger than these, respectively. (Step S607).

  Subsequently, zoom processing and AF processing are executed (step S608), and a through image of the subject image is displayed on the display unit 14 (step S609). Next, it is determined whether or not a shooting instruction has been made by pressing the release button (step S610). If not, other key processing corresponding to the key operated by the user on the operation unit 23 is executed (step S610). Step S611). When the release button is pressed and there is a shooting instruction, photometric processing and WB processing are performed (step S612), and exposure conditions such as exposure time T are set according to the photometric value obtained thereby (step S612). S613). Further, an addition number (M, N: integer) is selected according to the photographing conditions such as the photometric value, the exposure condition, and the set sensitivity (step S614).

  Next, the selected addition numbers M and N are compared with the addition limits Mmax and Nmax set in step S607 to determine whether or not the addition number M ≦ Mmax and the addition number N ≦ Nmax ( Step S615). If this determination is NO and the selected addition number exceeds the addition limit, the process proceeds from step S615 to step S618, and the addition number is reduced by 1 (step S618). In addition, as a result of reducing the number of added pixels, it is determined whether or not the values of M and N have become 1 or less (step S619). The image sensor 20 is driven without normal pixel addition in which the image signal charges of the pixels are sequentially read, that is, “M = N = 1” (step S620), and the process proceeds to step S621 described later. However, if the determination in step S619 is NO and the values of M and N (integers) are values exceeding 1, the process returns to step S615.

  If the addition number M ≦ Mmax and the addition number N ≦ Nmax, the determination in step S615 is YES, and if the selected addition number is equal to or less than the addition limit, “T / (M * N ) ", The exposure time is reset according to the addition numbers M and N (step S616). Then, the imaging device 20 is driven by switching to the vertical & horizontal addition reading mode in which the imaging signal charges of the pixels of the same color in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the imaging device 20 are added and read (step S617). At the same time, the exposure / shooting operation is started according to the fixed shooting conditions (step S621), and the shutter 58 is opened and the image sensor 20 is exposed by the processing in step S621. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the exposure time corresponding to the shutter speed has ended (step S622), and the exposure / photographing operation (step S621) is continued until the exposure time ends.

  Then, when the determination in step S622 is YES and the exposure time is finished, the exposure / photographing operation is stopped and the shutter 58 is closed (step S623). Thereafter, whether or not the read image size read by the driving in step S620 or step S617, that is, the read image size (X ÷ M, Y ÷ N) is equal to or smaller than the set image size (x, y). Is determined (step S625). If this determination is NO and the read image size (X ÷ M, Y ÷ N) exceeds the set image size (x, y), it is not necessary to perform pixel interpolation, so the process of step S625 is performed. Instead, the process proceeds to step S626.

  However, if the determination in step S624 is YES and the read image size (X ÷ M, Y ÷ N) is equal to or smaller than the set image size (x, y), an image of the set image size set by the user is selected. In order to generate, pixel interpolation processing is executed (step S625). Thereafter, the captured image is compressed and encoded (step S626), and the compressed and encoded captured image is recorded in the external memory medium 39 (step S627).

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform blur reduction shooting and sensitization shooting so that the set image size can be surely ensured and pixel interpolation processing accompanied by image deterioration is not performed as much as possible.

  (Seventh embodiment)

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, when the set exposure time (shutter speed) is longer (slower) than a predetermined value, the set (ISO equivalent sensitivity) imaging sensitivity is set lower than the predetermined sensitivity. First, the imaging sensitivity is sequentially increased, and the exposure time is reset so as to be shorter than a predetermined value (the shutter speed is increased). If the exposure time is longer than the specified value even when the sensitivity is increased (such as the limit of imaging sensitivity where noise is not conspicuous), switch to “Shooting mode with pixel addition readout” and depending on the addition magnification. The exposure time is set again to shorten the exposure time.

  First, it is determined whether or not the auto shooting mode or the blur reduction shooting mode is set by the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user (step S701). If the auto shooting mode or the blur reduction shooting mode is not set, the process proceeds to other shooting mode processing (step S702). When the auto shooting mode or the blur reduction shooting mode is set, the shooting condition is set, and the image size is selected according to the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user (step S703).

  Next, zoom processing and AF processing are executed (step S704), and a through image of the subject image is displayed on the display unit 14 (step S705). Next, it is determined whether the release button has been pressed and a shooting instruction has been issued (step S706). If not, other key processing corresponding to the key operated by the user on the operation unit 23 is executed (step S706). Step S707). When the release button is pressed and there is a shooting instruction, photometric processing and WB processing are performed (step S708), and exposure is performed according to the photometric value obtained thereby and the shooting conditions set in step S703. Conditions are set (step S709). Further, it is determined whether or not the set exposure time set by the process in step S709 is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time (step S710). As a result of the determination, if the set exposure time is equal to or less than the predetermined time, it is determined that there is little possibility of blurring during the set exposure time, and it is not necessary to perform blur reduction shooting. Therefore, the image pickup device 20 is driven in the normal read mode in which the image pickup signal charges of all the pixels of the image pickup device 20 are sequentially read (step S714), and exposure / photographing processing is performed (step S715).

  However, if the result of determination in step S710 is that the set exposure time exceeds a predetermined time, it is determined that there is a high possibility of blurring. Therefore, first, the photographing sensitivity value Sv is increased by one step, and the shutter speed Tv is decreased by one step (increased by one step) (step S711). Then, it is determined whether or not the shooting sensitivity increased by one step by the process in step S711 is equal to or lower than a predetermined sensitivity (step S712). That is, when the sensitivity is increased, the exposure time (shutter speed) can be shortened, but noise is generated along with this, so it is determined whether or not the sensitivity is below a predetermined sensitivity where noise is not noticeable.

  If the sensitivity is less than a predetermined sensitivity where noise is not conspicuous, it is determined whether or not the set exposure time increased (increased) by one step is less than or equal to a predetermined time at which the possibility of blurring is low (step S713). If both the determinations in steps S712 and S713 are YES, and the photographing sensitivity ≦ predetermined sensitivity and the set exposure time ≦ predetermined time, that is, the noise is less than the predetermined sensitivity where noise is not noticeable, and the blur If the exposure time is less likely to occur, the process proceeds to step S714 described above. Therefore, in this case, the image pickup device 20 is driven in the normal read mode in which the image pickup signal charges of all the pixels of the image pickup device 20 are sequentially read. Even when shooting is performed in the normal read mode in this way, noise is conspicuous. It is possible to shoot an image without blur.

  If the determination in step S713 is NO and the set exposure time exceeds the predetermined time, there is still a high possibility that blurring will occur. Therefore, the process returns to step S711 and the shooting sensitivity value Sv is increased by one step again. The shutter speed Tv is lowered by one step (step S711). As a result, if the shooting sensitivity increased by one step exceeds the predetermined sensitivity, the occurrence of noise is noticeable because the shooting sensitivity exceeds the predetermined sensitivity, even though the occurrence of blurring can be prevented by shortening the exposure time. It becomes. Therefore, it is clear that even if shooting is performed in the normal readout mode, an image with no noise but no noise is obtained. Accordingly, in this case, when step S712 is NO, the process proceeds from step S712 to step S716.

  Then, the photographing sensitivity value Sv and the shutter speed value Tv raised from the processing in step S711 are returned to the state before the processing in step S711 (step S716). Therefore, when the processing in step S711 is performed once and the photographing sensitivity value Sv and the shutter speed value Tv are increased by one level, they are decreased by one level. Next, a vertical & horizontal addition readout mode is set in which the imaging signal charges of the pixels of the same color in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the imaging element 20 are added and read out. The shutter speed Tv is also increased by one or two steps (step S717). Then, it is determined whether or not the increased addition number is equal to or less than the predetermined addition number (step S718).

  That is, the image size decreases as the number of additions increases. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the addition number is equal to or less than the addition number so that the image size does not become extremely small. If the number of additions ≦ the predetermined number of additions, there is a margin in the number of additions, and even if the number of additions is further increased, the image size does not become extremely small. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the set exposure time indicated by the shutter speed Tv increased (accelerated) in step S717 is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time (step S719). Since there is a possibility, the process returns to step S717.

  If both the determinations in steps S718 and S719 are YES, that is, if the addition number ≦ the predetermined addition number and the set exposure time ≦ the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S721. On the other hand, if the determination in step S718 is NO, that is, if the number of additions is increased to reduce the set exposure time to a predetermined time or less, the number of additions increases and the image size becomes extremely small. Proceed to step S720. Contrary to the processing in step S716, the sensitivity (addition number) is decreased by one or two steps, the shutter speed Tv is also decreased by one or two steps, and the sensitivity (addition number) and the shutter speed value Tv are returned. (Step S720), the process proceeds to Step S721.

  In step S71 following either step S719 or step S720, the mode is switched to a vertical & horizontal addition readout mode in which the imaging signal charges of pixels of the same color in the vertical direction and horizontal direction of the image sensor 20 are added and read. (Step S71), the image sensor 20 is driven, and exposure / photographing processing is performed (step S722).

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, shooting sensitivity is reduced by combining exposure sensitivity and pixel addition to reduce blurring, and noise generation due to increased sensitivity is suppressed, and pixel addition reduces image size. It can be reduced as much as possible.

  In step S712, the photographing sensitivity is compared with a predetermined predetermined sensitivity. However, the predetermined sensitivity may be arbitrarily set by the user.

  (Other embodiments)

  FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a schematic circuit configuration of a digital camera 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 2 includes an exposure setting unit 201, a sensitivity setting unit 202, a pixel addition readout switching control unit 203, and an interpolation magnification setting unit 204. The exposure setting means 201 is given the output from the photometric sensor 205 and the output from the photographing condition setting means 206, and the sensitivity setting means 202 is given the output from the photographing condition setting means 206. Outputs from the exposure setting unit 201, the sensitivity setting unit 202, the shooting mode selection unit 207, and the image size / paper size selection unit 208 are supplied to the pixel addition readout switching control unit 203, and the interpolation magnification setting unit 204 is provided. Are supplied with outputs from the pixel addition read switching control means 203 and the image size / paper size selection means 208, respectively.

  On the other hand, an aperture 210, a shutter 211, and an image sensor 212 are disposed on the optical axis of the photographing optical system 209. The aperture 210 is driven by the aperture drive unit 213, the shutter 211 is driven by the shutter drive unit 214, and the image sensor 207 is driven by the CCD drive & timing control unit 215. The aperture driving unit 213 and the shutter driving unit 214 operate based on a signal from the exposure setting unit 201.

  The signal processing circuit 216 includes the CCD driving & timing control unit 215, and is a circuit that processes an analog signal from the image pickup device 212 and converts it into a digital signal. The signal processing circuit 216 controls the CDS 217, Amp 218, ADC 219, and WB. Switching unit 220, pixel addition processing unit 221, pixel interpolation processing unit 222, color interpolation unit 223, γ correction unit 224, color matrix 225, and system that passes through the pixel addition processing unit 221 and a system that bypasses the system A container 226. Amp 218 is controlled by the sensitivity setting unit 202, the pixel interpolation processing unit 222 and the switch 226 are controlled by the pixel addition readout switching control unit 203, and the pixel interpolation processing unit 222 is controlled by the interpolation magnification setting unit 204. Pixel interpolation is performed according to the set interpolation magnification. Further, the digital image data from the signal processing circuit 216 is provided to the image compression / encoding unit 228 via the image buffer memory 227, and after being compressed and encoded, the digital image data is recorded on the image recording unit. Has been.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, instead of the pixel addition process at the time of reading out charges from the image element 212 as in the above-described embodiment, pixel addition synthesis is performed by image processing on the image data after shooting. be able to. That is, as shown in FIG. 18, it corresponds to a neighboring same color (R, G, B, etc.) filter at the stage of the captured original image data in the bearer array (of the color filter) before color interpolation processing or the like. A plurality of pixels of the same color, such as 4 to 9 pixels, are added and synthesized. As a result, even with image data having a short exposure time, the image size is reduced to 1 / (m × n) by adding and combining (m × n) pixels, but the luminance data can be sensitized to (m × n) times. . Therefore, in principle, there is an effect equivalent to increasing the sensitivity approximately (m × n) times. Conversely, the exposure time can be shortened. In this case, the number of pixels to be added (m × n) may be sequentially increased to perform pixel addition processing according to an insufficient amount of exposure time.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Main body 3 Release button 8 Mode change switch 14 Display part 16 1st acceleration sensor 17 2nd angular velocity sensor 19 Lens group 20 Image sensor 23 Operation part 24 Input circuit 25 Control part 26 Display memory 27 Display drive block 28 Image buffer Memory 29 Image signal processing unit 30 Compression encoding / decompression decoding unit 31 Still image / moving image memory 32 Program memory 33 Data memory 38 Shooting control unit 39 External memory medium 55 Zoom lens unit 56 Drive mechanism 57 Aperture 58 Shutter 61 Focus lens Driving unit 62 Zoom lens driving unit 64 Shutter driving unit 65 Video signal processing unit 66 Driver

Claims (21)

An imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal;
Setting means for selectively setting the first mode and the second mode;
When the first mode is set by the setting means, it is determined whether or not a predetermined condition for causing the imaging means to perform addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal is satisfied. Judgment means,
When the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the imaging unit is caused to execute the addition process. When the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the addition process is performed. First control means for outputting the image signal without causing it to be executed;
An electronic camera comprising: a second control unit that causes the imaging unit to forcibly execute the addition process when the second mode is set by the mode setting unit. The setting means includes means for setting whether to cause the imaging means to execute the addition processing by the first control means,
The first control means, when the execution of the addition process is set by the setting means and when the determination means determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, If the execution of the addition process is not set by the setting unit, or the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the image is not executed without executing the addition process. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein a signal is output. An imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal;
Setting means for selectively setting the first mode and the second mode;
When the first mode is set by the setting means, it is determined whether or not a predetermined condition for causing the imaging means to perform addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal is satisfied. Judgment means,
When the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the imaging unit is caused to execute the addition process. When the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the addition process is performed. First control means for outputting the image signal without causing it to be executed;
And a second control unit that outputs the image signal without causing the imaging unit to execute the addition process when the second mode is set by the mode setting unit. camera. The predetermined condition includes a predetermined shooting condition,
The setting means includes means for variably setting the predetermined photographing condition,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not a predetermined photographing condition is set by the setting unit.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image size correction unit that corrects an image size by performing a pixel interpolation process for interpolating a pixel of the image signal when the addition unit is executed by the imaging unit. Any one of the electronic cameras. An imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal;
Determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined condition for causing the imaging means to perform addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal is satisfied;
When the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the imaging unit is caused to execute the addition process. When the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the addition process is performed. Control means for outputting the image signal without causing it to be executed;
An electronic camera comprising: an image size correcting unit that corrects an image size by performing a pixel interpolation process for interpolating a pixel of the image signal when the addition unit is executed by the imaging unit. Recording means for recording the image signal generated by the imaging means;
Further comprising designation means for designating an image size of the image signal recorded in the recording means,
The image size correction means performs the pixel interpolation process when the image size of the image signal subjected to the addition process is smaller than the image size designated by the designation means. 5. The electronic camera according to 5 or 6. The predetermined condition is
(1) When the focal length of the imaging lens arranged in front of the imaging means is larger than a predetermined value,
(2) When the imaging lens is driven and the macro mode or the close-up mode is set,
(3) A camera shake amount detected by camera shake detection means for detecting camera shake caused by the displacement of the camera and an image shake detection means for detecting image shake caused by a change in the subject. When one of the image blurs is larger than a predetermined value or a pre-calculated allowable blur amount,
(4) When the subject brightness detected by the detecting means for detecting the brightness of the subject is lower than a predetermined value,
(5) When the strobe of the camera is forcibly set off,
(6) When the exposure time of the imaging means set based on the photometric value measured by the photometric means is longer than a predetermined exposure time,
(7) If the image movement amount due to the movement of the subject within the set exposure time of the imaging unit is larger than a predetermined value or a preliminarily calculated allowable confusion circle diameter, If determined,
(8) From the white balance set by the setting means for setting the white balance, the judging means for judging whether or not the subject is a dark room or an object under electric light illumination, and determines whether the subject is in the dark room or under electric light illumination. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the electronic camera includes at least one condition when it is determined to be present. An imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal;
Storage means for storing shooting conditions corresponding to each of a plurality of shooting scenes;
Selecting means for selecting one of the shooting scenes stored in the storage means;
Setting means for setting shooting conditions corresponding to the shooting scene selected by the selection means,
The setting means, when the shooting scene selected by the selection means is a predetermined shooting scene, causes the imaging means to perform an addition process of adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal, and the predetermined shooting is performed. An electronic camera that outputs the image signal without executing the addition processing when it is not a scene. An imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal;
Recording means for recording the image signal generated by the imaging means;
Designating means for designating the image size of the image signal recorded in the recording means or the paper size of the paper on which this image is printed;
A setting unit that sets an allowable blur amount that is a blur allowable amount of an image captured by the imaging unit according to the image size or the paper size specified by the specifying unit;
Detecting means for detecting a blur amount of an image captured by the imaging means;
When the blur amount of the image detected by the detection unit exceeds the allowable blur amount set by the setting unit, the image pickup unit is caused to execute an addition process for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal, An electronic camera comprising: control means for outputting the image signal without causing the addition process to be executed if the allowable blur set by the setting means is not greater.   The detection means includes at least one of a first detection means for detecting a camera shake that is a shake of the electronic camera and a second detection means for detecting an image shake that is a shake of an image itself captured by the imaging means. The electronic camera according to claim 10, further comprising: An imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal;
Recording means for recording the image signal generated by the imaging means;
Designating means for designating the image size of the image signal recorded in the recording means;
Control means for causing the imaging means to selectively execute addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal and non-addition processing for outputting the image signal without performing the addition processing;
Determining means for determining whether or not the image size when the addition processing is executed by the imaging means is smaller than the image size specified by the specifying means;
When it is determined by the determining means that the image size when the addition processing is executed is smaller than the image size specified by the specifying means, a warning means for warning that effect is provided. Electronic camera. Input means for inputting a response to the warning by the warning means;
The electronic camera according to claim 12, wherein the control unit causes the imaging unit to execute the addition process when the response input by the input unit is an affirmative response. When the determination means determines that the image size when the addition process is executed is smaller than the image size specified by the specification means, a pixel interpolation process is performed to interpolate the pixels of the image signal. It further comprises image size correction means for correcting the image size,
The warning means includes means for warning that it is necessary to perform processing for correcting the image size,
The electronic camera according to claim 13, wherein the control unit includes a unit that causes the image size correction unit to execute the correction process when the affirmative response is received. An imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal;
Recording means for recording the image signal generated by the imaging means;
Designating means for designating the image size of the image signal recorded in the recording means;
Based on the image size designated by the designation means, an addition process for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal to the imaging means, and a non-addition process for outputting the image signal without performing the addition process An electronic camera comprising: control means for selectively executing. An imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal;
Recording means for recording the image signal generated by the imaging means;
Designating means for designating the image size of the image signal recorded in the recording means;
Control means for controlling the number of added pixels when causing the imaging means to perform addition processing for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal based on the image size designated by the designation means. A featured electronic camera. The control means includes calculation means for calculating a limit of the pixel addition number based on the image size designated by the designation means,
The electronic camera according to claim 16, wherein the addition processing of the imaging unit is controlled based on the limit of the pixel addition number calculated by the calculation unit.   16. The electronic camera according to claim 15, wherein the control means reduces the addition number in the addition process of the imaging means within the limit of the pixel addition number. When the image size when the adding process is executed by the imaging unit is smaller than the image size specified by the specifying unit, a pixel interpolation process for interpolating the pixels of the image signal is performed to correct the image size. Image size correction means;
A setting means for selectively setting the operation and non-operation of the image size correction means,
When the operation of the image size correcting means is set by the setting means, the calculating means includes means for correcting the limit of the pixel addition number to a value larger than that in the case of non-operation. Item 19. The electronic camera according to any one of Items 15 to 18. An imaging unit that has a plurality of pixels and that captures an image of a subject to generate an image signal;
Detecting means for detecting brightness of the subject;
A setting means for setting the imaging sensitivity of the imaging means according to the brightness of the subject when the brightness of the subject detected by the detection means is equal to or lower than a predetermined brightness;
When the brightness of the subject detected by the detection means exceeds a predetermined brightness, the imaging means executes an addition process for adding neighboring pixel components in the image signal, and is detected by the detection means. An electronic camera comprising: control means for outputting the image signal without executing the addition process when the brightness of the subject is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The setting means sets the imaging sensitivity and the exposure time of the imaging means according to the brightness of the subject,
First determining means for determining whether or not the exposure time set by the setting means is a predetermined value or more;
If the exposure time is less than the predetermined value as a result of the determination by the first determination means, the setting means increases the imaging sensitivity and decreases the exposure time accordingly and restarts. Including resetting means to set,
Second determining means for determining whether or not the exposure time reset by the resetting means is greater than or equal to the predetermined value;
The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the control unit causes the imaging unit to execute the addition process when the exposure time is equal to or greater than the predetermined value as a result of the determination by the second determination unit. camera.

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