JP2012010003A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (8)

Can be assigned to read out the pixel value of the pixel of the image sensor as an image signal under the condition that the continuous shooting speed is a desired speed during the shooting operation sequence in the continuous shooting mode in which still images are continuously shot. A readout time determination unit that determines an image signal readout time as time;
When reading an image signal from the image sensor, based on the image signal read time determined by the read time determination unit, read in a first read mode that reads image signals from all pixels of the image sensor, or It is determined whether to read in the second readout mode in which the image signal is read out with a smaller number of readout pixels than the total number of pixels, and when it is determined to read out in the second readout mode, the number of readout pixels is A readout pixel number determination unit that determines based on the image signal readout time determined by the readout time determination unit;
A digital camera comprising: an image signal read control unit that performs control for reading an image signal from the image sensor after the exposure operation based on the read pixel number determined by the read pixel number determining unit. The image sensor is configured to be able to read out an image signal by a cutout readout method of reading out an image signal from a pixel in a part of the light receiving area of the image sensor as the second readout mode,
A read area determining unit that determines an area to be cut out and read in correspondence with the number of read pixels determined by the read pixel number determining unit;
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the image signal readout control unit reads out an image signal from a pixel in an area determined by the readout area determination unit. The digital camera according to claim 2, further comprising a shooting range notification processing unit that notifies a user of a shooting range corresponding to the area determined by the read area determination unit. It further includes a face recognition processing unit that processes the image signal for live view display to recognize the face of the subject, and identifies the position of the recognized face in the shooting screen when the face is recognized,
The read area determination unit determines an area to be cut out and read at the center of the light receiving area of the image element when the face recognition processing unit does not recognize the face of the subject. 4. The area to be cut out and read is determined so as to include the position of the recognized face in the photographing screen when the face recognition processing unit recognizes the face of the subject. The digital camera described in 1. The readout time determination unit is configured to increase the continuous shooting speed by increasing the start timing of the start-up operation after completion of read-out, which is an operation that can be started up after completing the operation of reading out an image signal from the image sensor during the photographing operation sequence. Is a desired length, and is a time length that is obtained by raising the activation timing from the time allocated for reading the image signal from the image sensor in the normal sequence in which the image signal is read in the first reading mode. 5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a time obtained by subtracting an advance time length is determined as the signal readout time. 6. The readout time determination unit is advanced when the activation timing of the activation operation after the completion of readout is advanced during the imaging operation sequence, when the restriction that the activation is possible after the operation of reading out the image signal is removed. The possible time length is derived as the advance time length, and the advance time length is calculated from the time allocated for reading the image signal from the image sensor in the normal sequence in which the image signal is read in the first readout mode. 6. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein the subtracted time is determined as the signal readout time. A mount for mounting an interchangeable photographic lens;
Operation corresponding to the time required to return the aperture, which has been reduced to a predetermined aperture value during the exposure operation, from the photographic lens mounted on the mount unit to the open position in preparation for the next exposure operation after the completion of the exposure operation A parameter acquisition unit for acquiring a time parameter;
7. The digital according to claim 5, wherein the readout time determination unit derives the advance time length by referring to the operation time parameter acquired from the photographing lens, and determines the signal readout time. camera. A camera shake sensor for detecting the amount of camera shake during the exposure operation;
A camera shake correction drive unit that mechanically drives at least one of the optical element and the image sensor during an exposure operation in order to correct image blur caused on the exposure surface by the camera shake;
The readout time determination unit performs an operation of returning at least one of the optical element and the image sensor mechanically driven by the camera shake correction driving unit to a neutral position in preparation for the next exposure operation after completion of the exposure operation. 8. The signal reading time is determined by deriving the advance time length so that a startup operation is started after completion of reading following completion of reading. 9. Digital camera.