JP2021043371A - Imaging device and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

To ensure that an inter-imaging process is satisfactorily carried out even when the charge time of a shutter changes.SOLUTION: An imaging device 101 generates an image signal and performs an imaging preparation process using a signal from an imaging element 121 that photoelectrically converts a subject image. The imaging device comprises a shutter 126 for moving light-shielding curtains 202a, 202b and controlling the exposure time of the imaging element, charge drive means 127 for charging the moved light-shielding curtains; and control means 140 for performing an inter-imaging process that includes displaying an image signal and/or an imaging preparation process in an imaging interval from after the termination of charge after imaging a still picture to imaging of the next still picture. The control means acquires the charge time required for charge and controls, in accordance with the charge time, the number of times the inter-imaging process is performed and/or the duration of the inter-imaging process performed in the imaging interval.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging device including a shutter.

Some image pickup devices can perform continuous imaging for acquiring a plurality of still images while controlling focus and exposure according to changes in the subject. Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging device that adjusts the focus and exposure during continuous imaging by using a signal from an imaging element having pixels for focusing detection. Patent Document 2 describes an imaging device that displays a live view image during continuous imaging, and extends the display time of the live view image during continuous imaging by controlling the drive start timing of the diaphragm of the imaging optical system. Is disclosed. The imaging apparatus disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 controls so that the interval between imaging is constant in continuous imaging.

During continuous imaging, the light-shielding curtain of the shutter is moved to expose the image sensor to perform imaging, and then the light-shielding curtain is returned to the standby position for charge driving. Then, when the exposure of the image sensor is started again, a signal is read from the image sensor until the next image pickup, and focus adjustment, exposure adjustment, and display of a live view image are performed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-018034 JP-A-2017-147628

The interval between imaging in continuous imaging is preferably as short as possible and a fixed time. However, the time required to drive the light-shielding curtain to charge (shutter charge time) is longer than the time required for other processing, and changes depending on conditions such as the usage environment, the number of times of use, and the performance of the imaging device. Therefore, if the interval between imaging is too short, it is not possible to secure a sufficient time to read a signal from the image sensor within the interval, and focus adjustment, exposure adjustment, and display of a live view image are performed satisfactorily. Can't. This also applies to the image pickup apparatus disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

The present invention provides an imaging device capable of performing inter-imaging processing such as focus adjustment, exposure adjustment, and display of a live view image satisfactorily even if the shutter charge time changes.

An image pickup device as one aspect of the present invention runs on an image pickup element that photoelectrically converts a subject image, a processing means that generates an image signal and performs an image pickup preparation process using the signal from the image pickup element, and a light-shielding curtain. An image signal is used in a shutter that controls the exposure time of the image sensor, a charge driving means that charges the traveling light-shielding curtain, and an imaging interval from the end of charging after imaging of a still image to the imaging of the next still image. It has a control means for performing inter-imaging processing including at least one of display and imaging preparation processing. The control means is characterized in that the charge time required for charging is acquired, and at least one of the number and time of inter-imaging processing is performed at the imaging interval according to the charge time.

Further, a control method as another aspect of the present invention is an image pickup device that generates an image signal and performs an image pickup preparation process by using a signal from an image pickup element that photoelectrically converts a subject image, and runs a light-shielding curtain. It has a shutter that controls the exposure time of the image sensor, and at least of the image signal display and imaging preparation processing at the imaging interval from the end of shutter charge after imaging of a still image to the imaging of the next still image. It is applied to an image sensor that performs inter-imaging processing including one. The control method is characterized by including a step of acquiring a charge time required for charging and a step of controlling at least one of the number and time of inter-imaging processing performed at the imaging interval according to the charging time.

A computer program that causes the image pickup apparatus to execute a process according to the control method also constitutes another aspect of the present invention.

According to the present invention, even if the time required for charging the shutter changes, the inter-imaging processing can be performed satisfactorily.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the image pickup apparatus which is the Example of this invention. Sectional drawing of the shutter of the image pickup apparatus of an Example. The flowchart which shows the continuous imaging process in an Example.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the image pickup apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image pickup lens 111 as a lens unit includes a fixed lens 112, an aperture 113, and a focus lens 114. The image pickup lens 111 may be integrally provided with the image pickup device 101 as shown in the figure, or may be an interchangeable type that can be attached to and detached from the image pickup device.

The focus lens 114 is composed of one or a plurality of lenses, and moves in a direction in which the optical axis of the image pickup lens 111 extends (hereinafter, referred to as an optical axis direction) to adjust the focus. The focus drive unit 116 includes a focus motor, and moves the focus lens 114 in the optical axis direction by driving the focus motor in response to a focus drive signal from the lens control unit 117.

The aperture 113 adjusts the amount of light by changing its aperture diameter. The aperture drive unit 115 includes an aperture motor, and changes the aperture diameter of the aperture 113 by driving the aperture motor in response to an aperture drive signal from the lens control unit 117. The lens control unit 117 outputs a focus drive signal to the focus drive unit 116 in response to a focus control command from the camera control unit 140, and outputs an aperture drive signal in response to an aperture control command from the camera control unit 140. Output to 115.

The light incident on the image pickup lens 111 from a subject (not shown) goes to the image pickup element 121. A shutter 126 is arranged on the subject side of the image sensor 121. As shown in FIG. 2B, the shutter 126 is a focal plane shutter having a front curtain 202a and a rear curtain 202b as light-shielding curtains, respectively, and the shutter 126 with respect to the image sensor 121 due to the staggered running of the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b. Control the exposure time. The exposure amount of the image sensor 121 is controlled by the exposure time (shutter seconds) obtained by the shutter 126 and the aperture diameter of the aperture 113.

In the charged state shown in FIG. 2B, the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b are each locked by the attractive force of the electromagnet in the shutter drive unit 127 in a state in which a spring (not shown) is charged. The shutter drive unit 127 causes the front curtain 202a to travel in the opening direction by a spring force by turning off the energization of the electromagnet for the front curtain in response to a shutter drive command from the camera control unit 140, and then runs for a predetermined time (shutter seconds). When time) elapses, the rear curtain 202b is driven in the closing direction by a spring force by turning off the energization of the electromagnet for the rear curtain. As a result, imaging (exposure) for one image recording is performed.

The charge drive unit (charge drive means) 128 has a charge motor, and drives the charge motor in response to a charge drive command output from the camera control unit 140 for each image capture, thereby driving the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202a. Return 202b to the charged state. After that, the shutter driving unit 127 energizes the above-mentioned electromagnet in response to the shutter locking command from the camera control unit 140, so that the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b are held in the charged state.

The light that has passed through the shutter 126 during the exposure of the image sensor 121 is imaged on the image pickup surface of the image sensor 121 to form a subject image. The image sensor 121 is composed of a CCD or CMOS sensor, and photoelectrically converts a subject image into electric charges for each pixel. The electric charge accumulated in the image sensor 121 is read out as a pixel signal which is a voltage signal according to the drive pulse output by the timing generator 122.

The image pickup device 121 includes a plurality of image pickup pixels and a plurality of focus detection pixels, and an image pickup signal is generated by synthesizing pixel signals read from each of the plurality of image pickup pixels. Further, the focus detection pixel is composed of two photoelectric conversion units and one microlens, and the two photoelectric conversion units pass through different regions of the exit pupils of the image pickup lens 111 and are separated by the microlens. Each light beam is received. The pixel signal read from one photoelectric conversion unit in each of the plurality of focus detection pixels in the focus detection region set by the user or the focus detection processing unit 125 on the image sensor 121 is synthesized, and the other photoelectric conversion unit is combined. A pair of focus detection signals is generated by synthesizing the pixel signals read from.

The CDS / AGC / AD converter 123 performs correlation double sampling processing and gain adjustment processing for removing reset noise with respect to the focus detection signal paired with the image pickup signal as an analog signal read from the image sensor 121, respectively. And perform digital conversion. The CDS / AGC / AD converter 123 outputs an image pickup signal as a digital signal to the image pickup processing unit 124, and outputs a pair of focus detection signals as digital signals to the focus detection processing unit 125.

The focus detection processing unit 125 performs a correlation calculation on the pair of focus detection signals output from the CDS / AGC / AD converter 123, calculates the phase difference between the pair of focus detection signals, and captures an image from the phase difference. The defocus amount of the lens 111 is calculated. The focus detection processing unit 125 further calculates the drive amount of the focus lens 114 from the defocus amount. The camera control unit 140 sends a focus control command including the calculated drive amount to the lens control unit 117 to drive the focus lens 114. As a result, automatic focus adjustment (AF) is performed by the imaging surface phase difference detection method.

The image processing unit 124 calculates the brightness (measurement value) of the subject using the image pickup signal output from the CDS / AGC / AD converter 123, and performs image processing such as white balance processing and gamma correction on the image pickup signal. To generate an image signal (image data). The image pickup processing unit 124 transmits the photometric value to the camera control unit 140 via the bus 131, and stores the image signal in the SDRAM 136. The camera control unit 140 sets an exposure value (aperture diameter (aperture value) of the aperture 113 and shutter seconds) according to the photometric value. As a result, automatic exposure adjustment (AE) is performed.

The focus detection processing unit 125, the image pickup processing unit 124, and the camera control unit 140 constitute a processing means, and the camera control unit 140 corresponds to the control means.

The image signal stored in the SDRAM 136 is displayed on the display unit 133 via the bus 131 and the display control unit 132, or is written on the recording medium 135 such as a semiconductor memory via the bus 131 and the recording control unit 134.

A computer program and various data are stored in the ROM 137. The camera control unit 140 controls and processes the entire image pickup apparatus 101 using various data according to the computer program stored in the ROM 137.

The subject detection unit 139 detects a specific subject such as a face from the image signal. The focus detection processing unit 125 sets the focus detection area so as to include the specific subject detected by the subject detection unit 139. The camera control unit 140 performs AF and AE using the focus detection signal and the image pickup signal read from the focus detection region of the image sensor 121. Detection of a specific subject (hereinafter, simply referred to as subject detection), AF, and AE correspond to imaging preparation processing.

The operation unit 141 detects a user operation on an operation member such as a power button, a shutter button, and a mode setting dial, and transmits an operation signal to the camera control unit 140 via the bus 131. The camera control unit 140 performs control and processing according to the received operation signal.

Next, the operation of the shutter 126 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2E. The shutter 126 is composed of a shutter base plate 201 having an opening 200 through which the light flux from the image pickup lens 111 passes, and the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b described above. The front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b can each move (run) between a closed position that blocks the light flux from the image pickup lens 111 toward the image sensor 121 and an open position that causes the light flux to reach the image sensor 121.

FIG. 2A shows a state in which both the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b are in the open position. This state is a state before the image recording for image recording is performed, and the live view image generated from the image pickup signal from the image pickup element 121 exposed by the luminous flux from the image pickup lens 111 is displayed on the display unit 133. The rear curtain 202b is held by the attractive force of the electromagnet of the shutter drive unit 127 in a state in which the spring force required for the subsequent traveling is charged.

In FIG. 2B, in addition to the rear curtain 202b charged in FIG. 2A, the front curtain 202a is charged to the closed position in response to the full press operation of the shutter button, and the electromagnet of the shutter drive unit 127 is shown. Shows the state held by the suction force of. FIG. 2C shows that the front curtain 202a travels to the open position by the spring force by cutting the energization of the shutter drive unit 127 that has charged the front curtain 202a from the state of FIG. 2B to the electromagnet. Indicates the state of the curtain. In this state, the image sensor 121 for image recording for image recording is exposed.

FIG. 2D shows the rear curtain by cutting the energization of the shutter drive unit 127, which was charging the rear curtain 202b, to the electromagnet after a predetermined shutter second time has elapsed from the state of FIG. 2C. It shows a state in which 202b travels to a closed position by a spring force. In this state, the exposure of the image sensor 121 for image recording for image recording is completed. FIG. 2E shows a state in which the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b are returned from the state of FIG. 2D to the charge state shown in FIG. 2B by the charge drive unit 128, respectively.

Both the shutter drive unit 127 and the charge drive unit 128 detect the state of the shutter 126 and output the detection result to the camera control unit 140.

If the image sensor 121 has an electronic front curtain function that can reset the accumulated charges and start new charge accumulation, the shutter 126 does not have to have the front curtain 202a, and the rear curtain 126 does not have to have the front curtain 202a. The opening 200 may be closed only by 202b.
Next, the continuous imaging process executed by the camera control unit 140 according to the computer program will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, it is assumed that the imaging mode is set to the continuous imaging mode in which still image imaging (hereinafter, simply referred to as imaging) is repeated.

When the power of the image pickup apparatus 101 is turned on, in step 300, the camera control unit 140 causes the shutter drive unit 127 to hold the shutter 126 in the state shown in FIG. 2 (A), and the image sensor 121 generates a live view image. Charge storage and signal reading are performed. At this time, the camera control unit 140 also causes the image sensor 121 to perform charge storage and signal reading for generating a pair of focus detection signals.

Next, in step 301, the camera control unit 140 causes the image pickup processing unit 124 to generate an image signal of the live view image using the image pickup signal read out in step 300, and causes the display unit 133 to display the image signal.

Next, in step 302, the camera control unit 140 determines whether or not the shutter button has been half-pressed (SW1 is ON), and if SW1 is not ON, the process returns to step 300, and if SW1 is ON, the process returns to step 300. If so, the process proceeds to step 303.

In step 303, the camera control unit 140 causes the subject detection unit 139 to detect a specific subject from the image signal obtained in step 300. The image pickup processing unit 124 sets the focus detection region from the subject information indicating the position and size of the specific subject in the image signal.

Next, in step 304, the camera control unit 140 causes the focus detection processing unit 125 to calculate the drive amount of the focus lens 114 using the pair of focus detection signals obtained from the focus detection region set in step 303. The drive amount is transmitted to the lens control unit 117 to perform AF. Further, the camera control unit 140 acquires a photometric value from the photometric signal obtained from the focus detection region by the image pickup processing unit 124, and performs AE according to the photometric value.

Next, in step 305, the camera control unit 140 determines whether or not the shutter button has been fully pressed (SW2 is ON), returns to step 300 if SW2 is not ON, and returns to step 300 if SW2 is ON. Step 306 proceeds.

In step 306, the camera control unit 140 causes the charge drive unit 128 to start charging the front curtain 202a. Then, in step 307, the camera control unit 140 determines whether or not the charging of the front curtain 202a is completed from the state of the shutter 126 detected by the shutter driving unit 127, and proceeds to step 308 when the charging is completed. Here, the case where the front curtain 202a is charged to control the exposure of the image sensor 121 by using the front curtain 202a is described, but as described above, the configuration in which the opening 200 is closed only by the rear curtain 202b is adopted. In this case, the processes of step 306 and step S307 are unnecessary.

In step 308, the camera control unit 140 causes the image sensor 121 to start charge accumulation through the timing generator 122. Then, in step 309, the front curtain 202a is traveled via the shutter drive unit 127 to start the exposure of the image sensor 121. This initiates the first imaging for image recording.

When the shutter seconds set from step 309 have elapsed, the camera control unit 140 travels the rear curtain 202b via the shutter drive unit 127 in step 310 to end the exposure of the image sensor 121. In the following step 311 the camera control unit 140 ends the charge accumulation in the image sensor 121. This is the end of the first imaging.

Next, in step 312, the camera control unit 140 causes the charge drive unit 128 to start charging the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b. Next, in step 313, the camera control unit 140 starts measuring (acquiring) the time required for charging (hereinafter, referred to as shutter charge time) started in step 312.

Next, in step 314, the camera control unit 140 starts reading the image pickup signal from the image pickup device 121 that has accumulated the charge in the first image pickup in steps 308 to 311.

Next, in step 315, the camera control unit 140 executes AF and AE for the next imaging. Here, the position of the focus lens 114 that focuses on the moving subject is predicted by using the focus detection result obtained in the AF so far, and the focus lens 114 is driven to the predicted position. Information on the time when the focus detection signal was acquired in step 304 may be used to predict the position of the focus lens 114. Further, the camera control unit 140 predicts the aperture value and the shutter second time in the next imaging according to the aperture value and the shutter second time obtained in the AE so far, and the aperture 113 via the lens control unit 117 and the aperture drive 115. Is set to the predicted aperture value, and the predicted shutter seconds are retained.

Next, in step 316, the camera control unit 140 determines whether or not the signal reading from the image sensor 121 started in step 314 is completed, and if the signal reading is completed, the process proceeds to step 317.

In step 317, the camera control unit 140 causes the image pickup processing unit 124 to perform a development process for generating an image pickup image signal using the image pickup signal read from the image pickup device 121. Further, the camera control unit 140 causes the recording control unit 134 to write the captured image signal on the recording medium 135. Further, in step 318, the camera control unit 140 causes the display unit 133 to display the captured image signal via the display control unit 132.

Next, in step 319, the camera control unit 140 determines whether or not the charging of the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b of the shutter 126 started in step S312 is completed from the state of the shutter 126 detected by the shutter drive unit 127. to decide. When the charging of the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b is completed, the front curtain 202a is run again to expose the image sensor 121, whereby the processing from the end of charging after the first imaging to the next imaging (hereinafter, You can proceed to (called inter-imaging processing). Inter-imaging processing includes live view image display and imaging preparatory operations (subject detection, AF and AE).

The camera control unit 140 waits until the charge is completed, proceeds to step 320 when the charge is completed, and ends the measurement of the shutter charge time started in step 313.

Subsequently, in step 321 the camera control unit 140 calculates the number of times that the inter-imaging processing described later can be executed according to the shutter charge time measured up to step 320. For example, in continuous imaging, when imaging is repeated with a constant time between imaging (hereinafter referred to as an imaging interval), the time required to execute one inter-imaging process is t1 and the imaging interval time is t2. And. In this case, if the shutter charge time measured up to step 320 is t3, the number of times n during which the inter-imaging processing can be executed in the time t2 of the imaging interval excluding the shutter charge time t3 is n = ( It becomes t2-t3) / t1. When n is not an integer, the inter-imaging processing can be reliably completed within the time t2 by truncating the decimal point or less.

The time required to charge the front curtain 202a independently in step 306 for the next imaging is shorter than the shutter charge time for charging the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b measured in step 320. Therefore, the time available for the inter-imaging processing may be increased by assuming that the inter-imaging processing is completed within t3.

Next, in step 322, the camera control unit 140 travels the front curtain 202a via the shutter drive unit 127 to expose the image sensor 121 for the inter-imaging processing of steps 323 to 329.

In step 323, the camera control unit 140 causes the image sensor 121 to perform charge storage and signal reading for generating the image pickup signal and the focus detection signal. Next, in step 324, the camera control unit 140 causes the image pickup processing unit 124 to generate a live view image and displays it on the display unit 133.

Next, in step 325, the camera control unit 140 calls the subject information which is the result of the obtained subject detection detected in the steps so far. This subject information is used when determining the focus detection area in the AF / AE later.

In step 326 and step 327, the camera control unit 140 performs AF and AE according to the image pickup signal and focus detection signal obtained in step 323 and the subject information obtained in step 325, respectively. Next, in step 328, the camera control unit 140 stores the position of the focus lens 114 by AF and the time of charge accumulation that is the basis of the calculation of the position in the SDRAM 136 in association with each other.

Next, in step 329, the camera control unit 140 starts subject detection using the image pickup signal acquired in step 323. The time required for subject detection is longer than the time required for other processes included in the inter-imaging process. Therefore, the camera control unit 140 proceeds to the next step 330 while the subject is being detected. If the time required for subject detection is short, the process may proceed to step 330 after the detection is completed.

In step 330, the camera control unit 140 determines whether or not n times of inter-imaging processing that are possible before the exposure of the image sensor 121 for the next imaging has been performed, and if it has not been performed n times. Proceeds to step 331 to continue the inter-imaging processing, and if it is performed n times, returns to step 304.

Since the processing in steps 331 to 336 is the same as the processing in steps 323 to 328 described above, the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the inter-imaging process is performed once regardless of the shutter charge time acquired in step 320, but it is not always necessary to perform this process.

In step 337 after step 336, the camera control unit 140 determines whether or not the detection of the specific subject (subject information) started in step 329 is completed, and if not, returns to step 330 and ends. If so, proceed to step 338.

In step 338, the camera control unit 140 stores the detected subject information, and in step 339, the subject detection is started again.

The camera control unit 140, which has determined that n inter-imaging processes have been performed in step 330 and returned to step 304, uses the focus detection results and the exposure value (aperture value and shutter seconds) information obtained so far. Perform the prediction process used. Specifically, the camera control unit 140 stores the focus detection result in association with the time when the focus detection signal used for the detection is generated (the time when the charge is accumulated), and the focus detection result. By using this and the time corresponding to it, the position (predicted focus position) of the focus lens 114 that focuses on the subject in the next imaging can be calculated. Therefore, even when the time from the last focus detection to the next imaging varies in the imaging interval, AF to the predicted focus position in the next imaging can be performed. Further, the camera control unit 140 calculates the predicted aperture value and the predicted shutter second time, which are the predicted exposure values in the next imaging, according to the aperture value and the shutter second time obtained in the AE so far, and sets the aperture 113 to the predicted aperture value. Set to and hold the predicted shutter seconds.

Next, when SW2 is ON in step 305, the camera control unit 140 performs the next imaging in steps 306 to 336. Then, in step S140, when the detection of the specific subject (subject information) is completed in step S337, the result is stored in step S338, and the subject detection is started in step S339. After that, the camera control unit 140 returns to step S330.

As described above, the shutter charge time is longer than the time required for other processing in the interimaging process, and changes depending on the conditions such as the usage environment, the number of times of use, and the performance of the imaging device 101. Therefore, the inter-imaging processing is performed by acquiring the shutter charge time and controlling the number of inter-imaging processes (live view image display, subject detection, AF and AE) to be executed within the imaging interval according to the shutter charge time. Can be performed as many times as possible to improve the image quality of the captured image obtained by the next imaging. If the number of inter-imaging processes is large, the live view image makes it easier for the user to confirm the subject image.

In this embodiment, the case where the inter-imaging processing includes the display of the live view image and the imaging preparation processing (subject detection, AF and AE) has been described, but only the live view image may be displayed or the imaging may be performed. Only the preparatory process may be performed. Further, in the imaging preparation process, the subject may not be detected and only AF and AE may be performed.

Further, in this embodiment, the case of controlling the number of inter-imaging processes to be executed before the exposure for the next imaging is performed in step 321 has been described, but the time for executing the inter-imaging processing before the next imaging is controlled. You may control both the number of times and the time.

Further, it is not always necessary to measure the shutter charge time each time an image is taken, and the shutter charge time (predicted charge time) thereafter may be predicted (calculated) from the once measured shutter charge time. Further, when the shutter 126 has the front curtain 202a and the rear curtain 202b, the charge time of both curtains may be predicted from the charge time of one curtain, or the charge time of one curtain may be calculated from the charge time of both curtains. You may predict.

Further, in this embodiment, the continuous imaging process when the imaging mode is set to the continuous imaging mode has been described, but even when the still image imaging is repeated at short intervals in the single imaging mode, the same imaging as the continuous imaging process is performed. Processing may be performed.
(Other Examples)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Each of the above-described examples is only a representative example, and various modifications and changes can be made to each of the examples in carrying out the present invention.

101 Image sensor 121 Image sensor 126 Shutter 128 Charge drive unit 140 Camera control unit 101 Image sensor

Claims (12)

An image sensor that photoelectrically converts the subject image and
A processing means for generating an image signal and performing an image pickup preparation process using the signal from the image sensor, and
A shutter that runs a light-shielding curtain to control the exposure time of the image sensor,
A charge drive means for charging the traveling light-shielding curtain and
It has a control means for performing inter-imaging processing including at least one of the display of the image signal and the imaging preparation process at the imaging interval from the end of the charge after the imaging of the still image to the imaging of the next still image. And
The control means
Obtain the charge time required for the charge,
An imaging device characterized in that at least one of the number and time of performing the inter-imaging processing at the imaging interval is controlled according to the charge time. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging preparation process includes focus adjustment. The control means is characterized in that, in the inter-imaging process, the focus is adjusted to a predicted focus position calculated using the result of focus detection using a signal from the image sensor and the time when the signal is generated. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging preparation process includes exposure adjustment. The fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the control means adjusts the exposure to the predicted exposure value calculated by using the exposure value set by using the signal from the image sensor in the inter-imaging process. Image sensor. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging preparation process includes detection of a subject. 6. The control means is characterized in that the focus adjustment and the exposure adjustment further included in the image pickup preparation process are performed by using the signal acquired from the region of the image sensor according to the detection result of the subject. The imaging device according to. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control means measures and acquires the charge time. The imaging device according to claim 8, wherein the control means calculates a subsequent predicted charge time using the measured charge time. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control means controls at least one of the number of times and the time during which the inter-imaging processing is performed in continuous imaging. It is an imaging device that generates an image signal and performs imaging preparation processing using a signal from an imaging element that photoelectrically converts a subject image, and has a shutter that runs a light-shielding curtain to control the exposure time of the imaging element. An image sensor that performs inter-imaging processing including at least one of the image signal display and the imaging preparation process at the imaging interval from the end of charging of the shutter after imaging of the still image to the imaging of the next still image. It is a control method of
The step of acquiring the charge time required for the charge and
A method for controlling an imaging apparatus, which comprises a step of controlling at least one of the number of times and the time during which the inter-imaging processing is performed at the imaging interval according to the charging time. It is an imaging device that generates an image signal and performs imaging preparation processing using a signal from an imaging element that photoelectrically converts a subject image, and has a shutter that runs a light-shielding curtain to control the exposure time of the imaging element. An image sensor that performs inter-imaging processing including at least one of the image signal display and the imaging preparation process at the imaging interval from the end of charging of the shutter after imaging of the still image to the imaging of the next still image. A computer program according to claim 11, wherein the computer is made to execute a process according to the control method according to claim 11.

Images