JP2020074511A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an imaging device that reduces scenes in which an imaged subject is shifted in an imaging device for performing composition processing of output images from plural imaging parts.SOLUTION: An imaging device includes driving means for driving at least one of plural imaging parts as a driving target in a predetermined drive mode, and composing means for composing image data acquired by the imaging parts. The imaging part contains an imaging element in which photoelectric converters for converging light to an electrical signal are arranged in a matrix direction. In the drive means, the area of the imaging element for acquiring image data is divided into plural units, one or more lines being set as one unit, and a first driving mode for successively switching the imaging part as the driving target every exposure or read-out of each unit is contained.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus having a plurality of image pickup units.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed an image pickup apparatus that picks up an image using a plurality of image pickup units when a wide range is picked up without using a fisheye lens and synthesizes output images from the image pickup units. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of generating a wide-angle panoramic image using a plurality of image pickup devices.

  In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses a method of connecting a plurality of images to generate a panoramic image.

JP-A-5-014751 JP, 11-069288, A

  However, in the above-described conventional technique, since exposure is performed by switching the plurality of image pickup units arranged side by side for each image pickup unit, in some cases, the exposure is performed at a shifted timing depending on the case where an image of a subject captured across the image pickup units is taken. There was a case where it ended up. In this case, the originally one object will be imaged with a shift, which may cause a malfunction in an application or the like that detects the imaged subject.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus that reduces a scene in which a subject is imaged with a shift in an image pickup apparatus that synthesizes output images from a plurality of image pickup units.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an imaging device having a plurality of imaging units for imaging a subject and acquiring image data, wherein at least one of the plurality of imaging units is driven. The image pickup unit is provided with a photoelectric conversion unit that converts light into an electric signal in a matrix direction, and includes a driving unit that drives in a predetermined driving mode as a target and a receiving unit that receives various settings from an external device via a network. Each of the image pickup devices, and the driving unit divides an area of the image pickup device for acquiring the image data into a plurality of units in which one or more rows are one unit, and the drive is performed for each exposure or reading of the unit. It is characterized in that it includes a first drive mode in which the target image pickup unit is sequentially switched and a second drive mode in which the region of the image pickup device is read out without being divided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging device for reducing the number of scenes in which a subject is imaged with a shift in an imaging device that synthesizes output images from a plurality of imaging units.

It is a system block diagram which concerns on a 1st Example. 6 is a timing chart for explaining exposure and reading of a plurality of image pickup devices according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the image which combined the image of the some image pick-up element which concerns on a 1st Example. It is a system block diagram which concerns on a 2nd Example. 9 is a timing chart for explaining exposure and reading of a plurality of image pickup devices according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the image which combined the image of the some imaging device which concerns on a 2nd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement flow based on a 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the communication which concerns on the control command of this invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configurations shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated configurations.

(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram including an imaging device 1000. Reference numeral 2000 is a client device indicating an external device according to the present invention. The imaging device 1000 and the client device 2000 are connected to each other via the network 1500 so that they can communicate with each other. The client device 2000 transmits various control commands to the imaging device 1000. This control command includes, for example, commands for starting and stopping imaging, irradiating the illumination device, and the like. Further, the image capturing apparatus 1000 that has received each control command transmits to the client apparatus 2000 a response to the received control command, image data generated from a captured image signal, and the like.

  The image capturing apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment is an example of an image capturing apparatus that captures a subject having a predetermined angle of view, and is, for example, a surveillance camera that captures a moving image. More specifically, it is assumed to be a network camera used for monitoring. The client device 2000 in this embodiment is an example of an external device such as a PC. The monitoring system including the image capturing apparatus 1000 and the client apparatus 2000 according to this embodiment corresponds to an image capturing system.

  Further, the network 1500 is assumed to be composed of a plurality of routers, switches, cables, etc. that satisfy a communication standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark). However, in the present embodiment, the communication standard, scale, and configuration are not limited as long as the communication can be performed between the imaging device 1000 and the client device 2000.

  For example, the network 1500 may be configured by the Internet, a wired LAN (Local Area Network), a wireless LAN (Wireless LAN), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the like. The imaging device 1000 according to the present embodiment may be compatible with PoE (Power Over Ethernet (registered trademark)), for example, and may be supplied with power via a LAN cable.

  Next, the internal configuration of the image pickup apparatus 1000 will be described with reference to FIG. A lens group 101a includes a zoom lens group, a focus lens group, a diaphragm mechanism, and the like, which are not shown.

  Reference numeral 102a denotes an image sensor in which photoelectric conversion units such as CCD or CMOS image sensors are arranged in a matrix direction, and converts an optical image received on the surface of the image sensor via the lens group 101a into an electric signal.

  An amplifier 103a amplifies the signal output from the image sensor 102a to a predetermined signal level. Further, the amplifier 103a of this embodiment has an AD conversion circuit. The amplifier 103a AD-converts the signal input from the image sensor 102a and outputs a digitized image signal. In this embodiment, 101a, 102a and 103a constitute one image pickup unit. Although 103a includes the AD conversion circuit, it may be included in 101a.

  Similarly, the second image pickup unit includes a lens group 101b, an image pickup element 102b, and an amplifier 103b. The third image pickup unit includes a lens group 101c, an image pickup element 102c, and an amplifier 103c. The fourth image pickup unit includes a lens group 101d, an image pickup element 102d, and an amplifier 103d. Each of the image capturing units is set to capture images in different directions or ranges. In this embodiment, the four image pickup units are installed so that the image pickup ranges thereof are adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

  A timing generator (hereinafter, also referred to as TG) 104 generates a drive signal for driving the image pickup devices of the image pickup devices 102a to 102d, and outputs the drive signal to each image pickup device. Then, each image pickup device performs control such as exposure control and signal reading in accordance with the timing based on the drive signal input from the TG. Specifically, each image sensor of the present embodiment employs line scan control for performing reset / readout collectively for one row. Then, the image pickup element to be driven is sequentially switched from among the plurality of image pickup elements, and reset / readout or the like is performed for each row. More details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  A video processing circuit 105 performs various video processing, compression encoding, and the like. The signals switched for each line are sequentially input from the image pickup devices 102a to 102d, and the image pickup devices 102a to 102d are rearranged in a form arranged according to the image pickup position. Specifically, the aligned images are combined into one panoramic image. Further, the combined image is subjected to image processing such as signal development processing, gamma processing, noise reduction processing and the like to be converted into image data. The converted image data is H.264. H.264 or H.264. A compression encoding process such as H.265 is performed and output.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a network processing circuit, which converts the output from the video processing circuit 105 in accordance with a communication protocol, performs appropriate packet processing, and delivers the packet to the network 1500. Further, the control signal for controlling the image pickup apparatus 1000 is transmitted and received in conformity with the communication protocol.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a control circuit including a CPU, which comprehensively controls each component of the image pickup apparatus 1000 and sets various parameters. The memory circuit 111 includes a memory or the like that can electrically erase data, and the control circuit 110 executes the OS and various programs stored therein. The memory is used as a program storage area executed by the control circuit 110, a work area during program execution, a data storage area, and the like. The control circuit 110 also includes a control unit that controls the TG 104 to output a predetermined drive signal at a predetermined timing. For example, the TG 104 is controlled so as to switch the drive mode for driving each image sensor according to an instruction from the client device 2000 or the like.

  In addition, the storage circuit 111 can hold signals output from each amplifier and signals output from the video processing circuit 105 in a predetermined order under the control of the control circuit 110.

  Here, in this embodiment, one TG 104 and one video processing circuit 105 are provided for a plurality of image pickup units. Therefore, the TG 104 sequentially switches the image sensor 102 to be driven and sends a drive signal. Then, the video processing circuit 105 sequentially switches and sequentially processes the input signals. In this embodiment, one TG 104 and one video processing circuit 105 are provided, but either one or both may be provided in plural. In this case, the number of image pickup units that can be driven simultaneously can be increased to one or more, and the frame rate and the like can be increased.

  Next, the operation of switching the exposure and reading of a plurality of image pickup devices for each line will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. The image pickup devices A to D correspond to the image pickup devices 103a to 103d, respectively.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes a vertical synchronization signal, which is generated by the TG 104 and is input to each image sensor as a reference signal for synchronizing the drive timing of the image sensor. Each image pickup element performs each process at the timing when the vertical synchronization signal 201 falls. Note that in FIG. 2, the timing of exposure and reading of each row may be executed in accordance with a horizontal synchronizing signal (not shown).

  First, the exposure (R11) of the first line of the image sensor A is started. At the next timing, the exposure (R21) of the first line of the image sensor B is started. Then, the exposure R31 of the first line of the image sensor C and the exposure R41 of the first line of the image sensor D are sequentially started. Then, the exposure R12 of the second line of the image sensor A is started. In this way, in each line which is the target of the image pickup devices A to D, the image pickup devices adjacent to each other in the scanning direction 206 are sequentially exposed. In each image sensor, the electronic shutter timing and the like for controlling the exposure timing and the exposure time are input from the TG 104. In the present embodiment, the scanning direction 206 indicates a direction parallel to a unit (for example, a row) in which each image sensor collectively performs exposure and reading.

  When the exposure is completed, the signal reading of each line is sequentially started similarly to the exposure timing. First, the first line of the image sensor A is read (Y11), and the read data is stored in the memory circuit 111 as S1-L1 as a signal of the first line of the image sensor A. Similarly, the first line of the image sensor B is read (Y21), and the read data is stored as S2-L1 in the memory circuit 111 as the first line data of the image sensor B. The first line of the image sensor C is read (Y31), and the read data is stored as S3-L1 in the memory circuit 111 as the first line data of the image sensor C. The first line of the image sensor D is read (Y41), and the read data is stored in the storage circuit 111 as the first line data of the image sensor D as S4-L1.

  Then, similarly, accumulation and reading are continued for each line of each image pickup device, and the process up to the nth line which is the final line is performed. By these processes, an image 202 of the image sensor A, an image 203 of the image sensor B, an image 204 of the image sensor C, and an image 205 of the image sensor D are generated.

  Next, in this embodiment, an image generated based on the exposed and read image shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the signals output from the respective image pickup devices are arranged in a panorama by the image processing means 105 and are combined. FIG. 3 shows a display unit and the like included in the client device 2000, which is obtained by synthesizing images generated from the respective image pickup devices side by side in a panoramic form into a single image with a wide angle of view (image with a wider image pickup range). It is an example displayed in.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, exposure and reading of the image pickup device are performed by switching for each line of each image pickup device. Therefore, a static subject 300 such as a building in a portion that straddles the image pickup devices, that is, a portion where the images are joined together, is not affected by the time lag between the image pickup devices, and thus is combined as it is. On the other hand, with respect to the moving subject 301 located in a portion across the image pickup devices, the time lag between the image pickup devices is switched for each line for exposure and reading, so that there is little deviation. Therefore, it is possible to synthesize a moving subject without seeing double. Since it does not appear double, it can be detected as one object without erroneously detecting as two objects.

  As described above, when imaging is performed using a plurality of image pickup units including image pickup devices that perform exposure and reading in row units, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the image pickup devices that are adjacent in the scanning direction 206 are sequentially exposed and read. Run. By performing such an operation, it becomes possible to suppress the displacement of the subject across the portion where the images are joined. In other words, it is possible to reduce erroneous detection due to double photographic subjects that straddle the portions where the images are joined.

  In the present embodiment, the scanning direction 206 is arranged in the same direction as each image sensor, but the image sensors may be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. In that case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained by performing the operation according to the present embodiment in the image pickup device arranged in the scanning direction 206.

  Note that FIG. 2 shows an example in which the rows corresponding to the respective image pickup elements are sequentially read, but the exposure timing or the read timing may be aligned for each corresponding row. For example, the start position or the end position of the exposure timings R1n to R4n on the nth row of each image sensor may be aligned. Further, the exposure timing or the read timing may be aligned for each corresponding row with a plurality of rows as one unit. For example, the start position or the end position of the exposure timings R1n and R1n + 1 on the n-th row and the n + 1-th row of each image sensor may be aligned. As described above, the unit for aligning the timing is not limited to the unit of one row, and the driving can be performed at an appropriate timing by considering and deciding the pixel arrangement and the internal structure of the image sensor.

(Example 2)
FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram including an imaging device 1000 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

  In this embodiment, 410 is a motion detection circuit. The motion detection circuit 410 detects the presence or absence of a moving subject in the image data input to the video processing circuit 405 or the image data obtained by combining a plurality of images in the video processing circuit 405. Then, the control unit 110 controls the TG 404 to change the drive mode for driving each image sensor depending on the presence or absence of a moving subject based on the detection result of the motion detection circuit 410.

  Specifically, when the motion detection circuit 410 detects that a moving subject is in the image, each image sensor is driven in the drive mode described in the first embodiment. On the other hand, when the motion detection circuit 410 detects that there is no moving subject in the image, each image sensor is driven in the drive mode shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to acquire the image.

  Here, regarding the operation of performing the exposure and the readout of the plurality of image sensors according to the second embodiment by switching for each line, the timing of FIG. 5 in the case where the motion detection circuit 410 detects that the moving subject is not in the image. This will be explained using a chart.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the timing of reading and accumulation of a plurality of image pickup devices arranged side by side.

  A vertical synchronization signal 501 is generated by the TG 104, and is input to each image sensor as a reference signal for synchronizing the drive timing of the image sensors 101a to 101d. Each image pickup element performs each process at the timing when the vertical synchronization signal 201 falls. Note that, in FIG. 5, the timing of exposure and reading of each row may be executed in accordance with a horizontal synchronizing signal (not shown).

  First, the exposure (R11) of the first line of the first image sensor A is started. Then, the exposure (R12) of the second line of the first image sensor A is started. The exposure is sequentially started, and the exposure (R1n) of the nth line which is the final line (effective area) is started.

  After that, when the exposure is completed, the signal reading of each line is sequentially started similarly to the exposure timing (Y11 to Y1n). The read data (S1-L1 to S1-Ln) of each line is stored as the data of each line of the image sensor A. An image 502 of the image sensor A is generated from these data.

  Similarly, in the second image pickup device B, the third image pickup device C, and the fourth image pickup device D, similar exposure and reading are performed, and each image 503 to 505 is generated.

  Next, in this embodiment, an image generated based on the exposed and read image shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Also in this embodiment, the signals output from the image pickup devices are arranged in a panorama by the image processing means 105 and are combined. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the images generated from the image pickup devices are arranged in a panorama form and combined into one wide-angle image, and the combined image is displayed on the display unit or the like included in the client apparatus 2000.

  Here, the exposure and the reading of the image pickup device 101 are switched for each image pickup device. The stationary subject 506, which is located across the image pickup elements, is not affected by the time lag between the image sensors, and thus is displayed without influence of the shift.

  In this way, when performing imaging by switching for each image pickup device, power saving operation is performed for each image pickup device by limiting the monitoring area by suspending a part of the image pickup unit or changing the drive mode. It will be easy to do. For example, it is possible to operate only a predetermined image capturing unit to acquire an image and update a part of the panoramic image.

  Next, the operation of changing the exposure and readout timing depending on the presence / absence of a moving subject will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process of this flowchart is executed by the control circuit 110.

  In step S701, the control circuit 110 starts the process of this flowchart. Then, the process proceeds to step S702.

  In step S702, the control circuit 110 controls the TG 104 to drive each image sensor 102. Then, a part or all of the image of each imaging unit is input to the video processing circuit 405. Then, the process proceeds to step S703.

  In step S703, the control circuit 110 uses the motion detection circuit 410 to detect whether or not a moving subject exists in the image input to the video processing circuit 405. Here, in the detection of a moving subject, the same subject is associated from the difference between a plurality of images, and the presence or absence of movement is detected from the amount of movement of the subject between the images. The amount of movement can be detected by moving one image in a predetermined direction with respect to another image and taking the difference between the images. A database may be provided in the storage unit 111 or the like, and the result of face detection or the like performed using the database may be used. Further, the presence / absence of movement may be detected depending on whether or not the position at which face detection or the like is performed changes between images. Alternatively, the detection may be performed based on control or information from the client device 2000. If there is no movement as a result of the detection, the process proceeds to step S704, and if there is movement, the process proceeds to step S705.

  In step S704, the control circuit 110 controls the TG 104 so that each image sensor is driven in the drive mode shown in FIG. Then, the process proceeds to step S706.

  In step S705, the control circuit 110 controls the TG 104 so that each image sensor is driven in the drive mode shown in FIG. Then, the process proceeds to step S706.

  In step S <b> 706, the control circuit 110 causes the image processing circuit 105 to arrange the image data exposed and read by the plurality of image pickup devices to perform panorama synthesis. Then, the process proceeds to step S707.

  In step S707, the control circuit 110 performs control to output the image generated by the image processing circuit 105 to the network processing circuit 106 and transmit the image to the client device 2000 via the network 108.

  By performing the above operation, appropriate driving can be performed by switching the driving mode, which is the exposure / reading timing of the plurality of image pickup elements, depending on the presence or absence of a moving subject in the image picked up by each image pickup element 102. Become. In the present embodiment, the control circuit 110 corresponds to a switching unit that switches a plurality of drive modes.

  In the present embodiment, the drive mode is switched depending on the presence / absence of a moving subject in the screen, but the driving mode may be switched in consideration of the position in the screen of the moving subject in the detection by the motion detection circuit 410. Specifically, the driving mode may be switched in consideration of whether or not a moving subject is detected in a region straddling a portion where images are joined. That is, in step S703 of FIG. 7, even if a moving subject is detected, if it is near the center of the screen, the image shift is suppressed, and the possibility of erroneous detection is also suppressed. Therefore, the frequency of driving mode switching can be reduced by switching the driving mode when a moving subject is detected around the screen. In addition, in two or more adjacent image pickup devices, when motion is detected, it may be determined that a moving subject is detected in a region straddling a portion where images are joined.

  Further, although the motion detection circuit 410 shows an example in which only the presence or absence of motion in the image is detected, other than this, the motion amount and the motion direction may also be detected. In this case, it is possible to provide a predetermined threshold for detecting the motion amount and not detect it if the motion amount is minute. By providing a predetermined threshold value for the amount of movement in this way, it is possible to reduce erroneous switching of drive modes due to erroneous detection. Further, by using the moving direction, it is possible to determine whether or not the moving subject straddles the range to be imaged in the next image pickup. For this reason, by using the movement direction for detection, it is possible to appropriately follow a fast-moving subject.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the operation of switching the drive mode of each image sensor depending on the presence or absence of a moving subject has been described, but it is not necessary to switch the drive mode of all the image sensors. That is, the drive modes of some of the image sensors may be switched according to the detected region of the moving subject. For example, only the drive mode of the image sensor that captures an image of a subject that extends over the image capturing range may be switched.

  The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 may be executed at the start of image capturing or may be executed at predetermined intervals.

  Although the case where the number of lenses and the number of image pickup elements are four is described as the configuration of the embodiment, the same applies to two to three, five or more.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.

(Example related to network communication)
The imaging device 1000 according to the present invention is connected to the client device 2000 via a network 1500. The client device 2000 can transmit a control command for controlling the imaging device 1000 via the network 1500 via the network 1500. The imaging apparatus 1000 controls itself based on the received control command and the parameters included in the control command. Then, when the imaging device 1000 receives the control command, the imaging device 1000 transmits a response to the received command to the client device 2000. Upon receiving the response from the image capturing apparatus 1000, the client apparatus 2000 updates the content of the user interface displayed on the display unit or the like provided in the client apparatus 2000 based on the information included in the response.

  Here, communication relating to control commands between the image capturing apparatus 1000 and the client apparatus 2000 will be described with reference to FIG. The client device 2000 and the imaging device 1000 communicate using a transaction that is a combination of request and response.

  First, in transaction S1000, the client apparatus 2000 transmits an information request request for acquiring information held by the imaging apparatus 1000. The information request request may include, for example, a request for inquiring about the function or the like of the image capturing apparatus 1000. Here, the functions of the image pickup apparatus 1000 include a parameter for compressing and coding an image, an image correction function, the presence / absence of a pan / tilt mechanism, and the like. The function of the image pickup apparatus 1000 also includes drive mode information regarding the drive mode in the image pickup unit. Here, the drive mode information includes the types of drive modes in which the image pickup device 1000 described above can be driven, and the like. Then, the imaging apparatus 1000 transmits an information request response as a response to this information request request. The information request response includes information regarding the function of the image pickup apparatus requested by the client apparatus 2000. By using these pieces of information, the client apparatus 2000 can recognize the function of the image pickup apparatus 1000.

  The client apparatus 2000 can also acquire the state of the image capturing apparatus 1000 using the information request request. Here, the state of the image pickup apparatus 1000 includes the current control parameters, the position of the pan / tilt mechanism, and the like. In addition, the state of the current drive mode and the like are included as the state of the imaging device. By using these pieces of information, the client apparatus 2000 can recognize the state of the image pickup apparatus 1000.

  In addition, the client device transmits a setting request for setting various parameters and the like to the imaging device in transaction S1100. The setting request is made in consideration of the function or state of the imaging device 1000 acquired in advance in the transaction S1000. For example, a request to set the state of the imaging device can be included. Here, as examples that can be set by the setting request, there are setting of parameters for compressing and encoding an image, setting of an image correction function, operation of a pan-tilt mechanism, and the like. Further, the drive mode of the image pickup unit can also be set by this setting request.

  Then, the imaging device 1000 transmits a setting response as a response to this setting request. The setting response includes information such as whether or not normal setting has been made regarding the function of the image pickup apparatus set by the client apparatus 2000. By using these pieces of information, the client apparatus 2000 can recognize the state of the image pickup apparatus 1000.

  In addition, the imaging apparatus 1000 transmits a periodic notification to the client apparatus in transaction S1200 based on the setting from the client apparatus 2000, triggered by a periodic or predetermined event. The regular notification has the same content as the information request response. By using these pieces of information, the client apparatus 2000 can recognize the state of the image pickup apparatus 1000.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

105 video processing circuit 107 imaging device 108 network 109 client device 110 control circuit 111 storage circuit

Claims (6)

An imaging device having a plurality of imaging units for imaging a subject and acquiring image data,
A driving unit which drives at least one of the plurality of imaging units in a predetermined driving mode as a driving target;
A receiving means for receiving various settings from an external device via a network,
Equipped with
Each of the image pickup units includes an image pickup device in which a photoelectric conversion unit that converts light into an electric signal is arranged in a matrix direction.
In the drive unit, the area of the image pickup device for acquiring the image data is divided into a plurality of units with one or more rows as one unit, and the image pickup unit to be driven is sequentially switched every exposure or reading of the unit. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a first drive mode; and a second drive mode for reading an area of the image pickup device without dividing the area. Further comprising a synthesizing unit for synthesizing the image data acquired by the image pickup unit,
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesizing unit synthesizes the acquired image data to generate image data having a wider image pickup range. Switching means for switching one or more drive modes of the drive means,
Further comprising detection means for detecting movement of the subject in the image data,
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit switches a drive mode of the driving unit based on a detection result of the detection unit.   The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the range different from the first drive mode includes a range surrounding a subject detected by the detection unit.   The switching means switches the drive mode to the first drive mode when the detection means can detect the movement of the subject in the image data, and the second drive when the movement of the subject cannot be detected. The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the imaging device is switched to a mode. Further comprising notifying means for notifying the external device of the state of the imaging device via a network,
The receiving means receives the drive mode setting of the drive means from an external device via a network,
The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the external device of drive mode information of the imaging device.

Images