JP2993292B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention realizes functions such as camera shake correction employed in a camera-integrated VTR.
The present invention relates to an imaging device for extracting an arbitrary image area of a charge-coupled device (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digitization of signal processing has been performed along with the improvement in semiconductor technology and the increase in speed of devices and increase in memory capacity. In addition, camera-integrated VTR
Digital signal processing technology is also being actively introduced into image input devices such as the one described above. Among them, in addition to digitization of main signal processing, special functions such as camera shake correction using a memory and digital zoom are used, and various methods are being studied.

[0003] A conventional imaging device will be described below.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional imaging device. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a photoelectric conversion element (a photodiode or the like) for converting light of a subject into a charge amount, and 402 denotes a photoelectric conversion element 40.
Vertical CCD for transferring one signal charge in the vertical direction
(V-CCD) 403 is a horizontal CCD (H-CCD) for transferring the signal charges transferred from the vertical CCD 402 in the horizontal direction, and is input to an output amplifier. 404 is an output for converting the signal charges into a voltage and outputting the voltage. Amplifier, 405 is amplifier 4
This is an output terminal for outputting an output signal from the terminal 04.

[0004] The operation of the imaging apparatus configured as described above will be described below. First, light from a subject which enters through a lens is converted into a charge amount by a photoelectric conversion element 401. The charge stored in the photoelectric conversion element 401 is
The data is read out to the vertical CCD 402 once per field. The signal charges read to the vertical CCD 402 are transferred in the direction of the horizontal CCD 403 once in one horizontal period.
On the other hand, the signal charges transferred to the horizontal CCD 403 are read out at high speed by a horizontal transfer pulse within one horizontal period. The output from the horizontal CCD 403 is a charge amount, and is converted into a voltage amount by the output amplifier 404 and output from the output terminal 405.

Here, since the transfer pulses of the horizontal CCD and the vertical CCD use a constant frequency, the conventional imaging device shown here can obtain a video signal of the same area.

A case in which camera shake correction is performed using this imaging apparatus will be described. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of camera shake correction by a conventional imaging device. FIG. 5A shows an image range obtained from the imaging apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 5 (b)
The solid line part is the zooming range after the interpolation processing, and the broken line part is the extraction range at the time of camera shake correction. And FIG.
(C) is an image range after camera shake correction.

[0007] The signal obtained by the imaging apparatus shown in FIG.
This is a reading method for obtaining a video signal for an effective video period of a monitor. In order to perform camera shake correction, a range in which camera shake can be corrected is required. Therefore, the signal obtained from the imaging device is once taken into the field memory and subjected to interpolation processing,
An arbitrary video range in which a video signal is enlarged is cut out.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, an operation of storing a video signal once in a field memory to perform a camera shake correction, expanding the image signal to a range in which the camera shake correction can be performed, and then cutting out a necessary video range. Was needed. For this reason, the resolution is lower than the originally obtained video signal, which causes image deterioration. Further, even if the range of the effective photoelectric conversion unit of the image pickup device is increased so that image deterioration does not occur, the vertical CCD and the horizontal CCD can be used.
There was a problem that the transfer method of the CD had to be changed from the conventional method.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of performing camera shake correction without causing image deterioration even when a CCD is driven by a conventional transfer method. I do.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement.
That is, a photoelectric conversion element that secures an area where the light of the subject can be converted into a charge amount and can perform camera shake correction, a vertical charge-coupled element for transferring signal charges in a vertical direction, and the vertical charge-coupled element. A horizontal charge-coupled device for transferring the transferred signal charge in the horizontal direction, an output amplifier for converting the signal charge into a voltage and outputting the voltage, an output terminal for outputting an output signal from the output amplifier, and A first switch connected between a directional charge coupled device and the output amplifier; a second switch connected between the vertical charge coupled device and the horizontal charge coupled device; A first switch for controlling opening and closing of the first switch;
And a second decoder for controlling the opening and closing of the second switch, wherein a signal transferred by closing a switch connected to the charge-coupled device is taken out from the intermediate charge-coupled device. , A video signal of an arbitrary area can be obtained.

[0011]

With the above arrangement, by closing a switch previously set by the decoder, signal charges can be output from the vertical CCD and horizontal CCD elements connected to this switch. Therefore, the signal charge readout position can be set arbitrarily both horizontally and vertically.
Reading is possible from any position.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a photoelectric conversion element (a photodiode or the like) that converts light of a subject into a charge amount. Reference numeral 102 denotes a vertical CCD, and the photoelectric conversion element 10
One signal charge is transferred in the vertical direction.
Reference numeral 103 denotes a horizontal CCD for transferring signal charges transferred from the vertical CCD 102 in the horizontal direction. 1
An output amplifier 04 converts a signal charge into a voltage and outputs the voltage. An output terminal 105 outputs an output signal from the amplifier 104. Reference numeral 106 denotes a switch.
And the output amplifier 104. A switch 107 is connected between the vertical CCD 102 and the horizontal CCD 103. 108 is a switch 106
This is a decoder for controlling the opening and closing of. Reference numeral 109 denotes a decoder for controlling opening and closing of the switch 107.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the horizontal CCD. 2
01 is a horizontal CCD. 202 is an output amplifier and horizontal C
Switch between CDs. 203 is a decoder for controlling the switch 202. An output amplifier 204 converts a signal charge into a voltage and outputs the voltage. An output terminal 205 outputs a signal. An arrow 206 indicates the flow of the signal charge.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are conceptual diagrams of camera shake correction by the image pickup apparatus of this embodiment. The solid line in FIG. 3A indicates the effective image area of the image pickup apparatus of this embodiment, and the dashed line indicates the camera shake correction. This is the extraction range, and (b) is the image signal after camera shake correction.

In this embodiment, the photoelectric conversion element 101 is provided with an effective pixel area for obtaining an image in a range where camera shake can be corrected, and an image is captured in a range shown by a solid line in FIG. The range indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3A (the image range after camera shake correction) is determined based on the camera shake correction value detected by another system. When the readout range of the video signal is determined, the horizontal and vertical video signal readout positions are determined. Then, the switches 108 and 107 connected to the CCDs at the read start position are turned on by the decoders 108 and 109. The switches connected to the CCDs other than the reading position are all turned off, and the CCD corresponding to the reading start position is connected to the horizontal CCD 103 and the output amplifier 104 at the next stage. In this state, as in the conventional imaging device,
Perform vertical drive. That is, reading is performed in which an offset is added to the transfer of signal charges, and an image in the range shown in FIG. 3B is obtained.

FIG. 2 shows a horizontal operation of the above operation. The switch 202 at a certain position is turned on by the decoder 203, and the signal charge transferred by the horizontal CCD 201 reaches the output amplifier 204 through the path 206 and is output from the output terminal 205.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a switch is connected to the CCD for transferring signal charges, and the switch is opened and closed by the decoder, thereby adding an offset to the video signal and adding an offset to the reading position. it can. Further, in this imaging device, reading can be shared with that of a conventional imaging device.

In the embodiment of the present invention, switches are provided on both the horizontal CCD and the vertical CCD. However, either one of them may be provided, and the opening and closing of the switches is not limited to one.

In the embodiment, the offset of the reading position has been described. However, it is needless to say that the offset can be used for discharging unnecessary charges.

[0021]

According to the present invention, by connecting a switch to a CCD for transferring signal charges and providing a decoder for controlling the opening and closing of the switch, it is possible to change a readout range of a video signal obtained from an imaging device. By setting one of the switches so as not to affect the video signal, an excellent imaging device capable of extracting unnecessary charges can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a horizontal CCD according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of camera shake correction by an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional imaging device.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of camera shake correction in a conventional imaging apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 photoelectric conversion element (photodiode or the like) 102 vertical CCD (V-CCD) 103 horizontal CCD (H-CCD) 104 output amplifier 105 output terminal 106 switch 107 switch 108 decoder 109 decoder 201 horizontal CCD (H-CCD) 202 switch 203 Decoder 204 Output amplifier 205 Output terminal 206 Arrow indicating signal charge flow 401 Photoelectric conversion element (photodiode, etc.) 402 Vertical CCD (V-CCD) 403 Horizontal CCD (H-CCD) 404 Output amplifier 405 Output terminal

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photoelectric conversion element which secures an area where the light of a subject can be converted into a charge amount to perform camera shake correction, a vertical charge-coupled element for transferring a signal charge in a vertical direction, and the vertical charge. A horizontal charge-coupled device for transferring the signal charge transferred from the coupling device in the horizontal direction, an output amplifier that converts the signal charge into a voltage and outputs the voltage, and an output terminal that outputs an output signal from the output amplifier. A first switch connected between the horizontal charge-coupled device and the output amplifier, and a second switch connected between the vertical charge-coupled device and the horizontal charge-coupled device. An imaging apparatus comprising: a switch; a first decoder for controlling opening and closing of the first switch; and a second decoder for controlling opening and closing of the second switch.