JP3233949B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging device, and
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that converts an image of a subject into an electric signal using an imager such as D, processes the signal, and performs AF (autofocus), image recording, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of AF devices have been conventionally provided for an AF device for calculating a video signal obtained from a subject image formed on a photoelectric conversion means such as an imager to obtain a focal point. One of such AF devices is configured to move the taking lens in a direction in which the value indicating the degree of focusing becomes large, and stop when a peak position is detected.
There is a method called a hill climbing method. This hill-climbing method focuses on the fact that when the image comes into focus, contrast information, which is a high-frequency component in the video signal, increases, and the high-frequency component extracted from the video signal by a band-pass filter or the like is used for focusing. It is detected as a signal indicating the degree.

In order to extract a one-dimensional electric signal from a two-dimensional subject image formed on the imager as the photoelectric conversion means in such an imager AF, for example, NT
In the case of the SC system, an image signal is obtained by interlacing readout of 525 horizontal scanning lines between an odd field and an even field.

The actual operation of interlaced reading of a subject image on the imager will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 taking a field accumulation mode of an interline transfer CCD as an example.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of one vertical line of the interline transfer CCD, and the photodiodes 40a, 40b,
, A four-phase drive vertical transfer CCD 43 is provided in parallel with the transfer gates XSG1, XSG described later.
2 are connected as shown. Each of the photodiodes 40a, 40b,... Forms a unit pixel on the imager, and corresponds to one horizontal scanning line.
And a vertical transfer CC for one diode.
Two sections D43 are provided correspondingly.

In this vertical transfer CCD 43, 1
Fine electrodes are adhered on each of the sections numbered 2, 3, and 4 repeatedly, and between the fine electrodes are deposited by vapor-deposited aluminum wiring so that the electrode potentials of the sections of the same number can be simultaneously controlled. It is connected. When the potential of the fine electrode is set to the "L" level, a potential well is formed below the electrode to accumulate charges.

The photodiodes 40a, 40b,...
A transfer gate for shifting the signal charges stored in the first transfer section to the sections 1, 2, 3, 4 of the vertical transfer CCD 43 is a first gate XSG hatched in FIG.
1 and a second gate XSG2 indicated by a white background. When the logic level of each of these gates XSG1 and XSG2 is set to “L”, the odd-numbered photodiode 40
a, 41a,... are transferred to the vertical transfer CCD
43, and the even-numbered photodiode 40
, 41b,... are transferred to the vertical transfer CCD
Each of them is transferred to 43 sections 3.

In the CCD 43, the potential of each section in the CCD channel is sequentially controlled as described later with reference to FIG.
The odd-numbered photodiode 40 during the field period
, 41a,... and transferred to the section 1, the signal charges of the next even-numbered photodiodes 40b, 41b,.
Are added to the signal charges stored in... And transferred to the section 3, and are taken out as an imager output via a horizontal transfer CCD (not shown). On the other hand, in the even-numbered field, the signal charges stored in the even-numbered photodiodes 40b, 41b,... And transferred to the section 3 are stored in the next odd-numbered photodiodes 41a, 42a,. And is taken out. Such a combination of addition of signal charges is set to 0 for odd fields.
And E for even fields, respectively, as shown in FIG.
Shown above.

Accordingly, in interlaced reading in the field accumulation mode of the interline transfer CCD, a combination shift of one horizontal scanning line occurs depending on whether the field is odd or even. This point will be described in detail in the following problem to be solved by the invention.

FIG. 5 is a time chart of signals of various parts applied to the vertical transfer CCD 43. The horizontal blanking signal H is shown in FIG.
Below D, pulse signals XV1 to XV4 applied to the sections 1 to 4 of the CCD 43 are shown separately for odd fields and even fields. If the logic level of the first and second transfer gates XSG1 and XSG2 described below XV4 in the drawing is set to “L” between the times t1 and t2, the data is accumulated by the photodiode during one field period. The transferred charges are transferred to the vertical transfer CCD 43.

In the CCD 43, when any one of the logic levels of the pulses XV1, XV2, XV3, and XV4 applied to the sections 1 to 4 is set to "L", as described above, the potential of the area drops and the electric charge is reduced. It is accumulated there. Therefore, for example, in a state where XV1 and XV3 are set to the “L” level to accumulate electric charges, if the potential of XV2 is also set to the “L” level, both electric charges can be mixed.

That is, after the signal charges are transferred from the photodiodes to the vertical transfer CCD during the charge transfer period from t1 to t2, the applied pulses XV1 to XV4 in the charge mixing period from time t3 to t4 are set to the “L” level. The accumulated charges can be added according to the order in which they are performed. As a result, the image information of the odd field and the even field can be obtained, so that the interlaced reading can be performed by alternately performing the information, and the non-interlaced reading can be performed by fixing only one of them.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the scanning mode.
The interlace drive shown in is also called normal drive,
Odd fields 0 and even fields E forming one frame are shown alternately. On the other hand, in the non-interlace drive of (B), only the odd field 0 or only the even field E is continuously displayed. That is, in a mode in which only one of the odd and even read fields is allowed, this may be intermittent rather than continuous. According to the interlace driving, the number of scanning lines is doubled as compared with the non-interlace driving, so that a remarkable improvement in image quality can be expected.

[0013]

However, when the interline transfer CCD is interlaced and read in the field accumulation mode, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the odd-numbered signal and the next even-numbered signal in the odd-numbered field are replaced with each other. Further, in the even field, since the even-numbered signal and the next odd-numbered signal are added and read by the transfer unit, a combination shift of one horizontal scanning line occurs depending on the odd / even of the field. Therefore, this is imager A
When used for F, sufficient distance measurement accuracy cannot be obtained. This point will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the reference subject 51 is formed on the image pickup surface of the interline transfer CCD and converted into an electric signal.
This is an explanatory view when interlaced reading is performed in the field accumulation mode, and areas A1 and A
2, A3 and areas B1, B2, B3 of even fields are sequentially read out, respectively. In this case, the area can be cut out, that is, from which point to which information can be determined only by how far along the line that comes out in order. The areas B1, B2, and B3 of the even fields are shifted downward by one scanning line from the areas A1, A2, and A3 of the odd fields.

If the contrast information of the reference subject 51 is KO per scanning line, the contrast information K in the odd field and the even field is obtained.
A and KB are as follows.

KA = 3K0 KB = 2K0 That is, when the same subject 51 is imaged by the interline transfer CCD and is interline read out in the field accumulation mode, the contrast information is KA, KB, as shown in FIG. KA,..., Causing field flicker. It should be noted that the normal flicker is a case where brightness changes periodically, and the above case is also referred to as a flicker as an equivalent. On the other hand, if, for example, only odd-numbered fields are repeatedly subjected to non-interlaced reading, the same contrast information KA can always be obtained as shown in FIG. 8B, so that field flicker does not occur.

Next, a description will be given of why such a field flicker causes a problem in the AF operation. The imager AF called the hill-climbing method operates according to how the contrast information changes due to the defocus. When observing the change in the contrast information, a periodic component that is not directly related to the movement of the photographing lens is used. If there is, noise will occur and the distance measurement accuracy will decrease. Therefore, in order to obtain contrast information, a constant output without flicker as shown in FIG. 8B is desirable.

However, the imager output is supplied not only to the AF operation but also to an EVF (Electronic View Finder) display and an external device as well as a recording operation, and is used in such a case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems and eliminates the influence of interlace reading which is considered to be a main cause of a two-field periodic component among noise components superimposed on contrast information of an imager AF. To provide.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent a decrease in recording image quality, which may be caused by the occurrence of such a phenomenon.

[0021]

According to a first aspect of the imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an imaging device having a two-dimensional photoelectric conversion unit, the imaging element
A video signal of a predetermined format based on the output of the
Signal processing means and a recording means for recording the video signal.
Step and automatic focusing that operates based on the output of the image sensor
Adjusting means, a first mode for obtaining an image signal by reading signals from the photoelectric conversion unit of the image sensor by interlaced reading, and an image signal for reading signals from the photoelectric conversion unit of the image sensor by non-interlaced reading the obtained operation mode automatic switching means for switching the two operation modes automatically the second mode, comprising a, the operation mode automatic switching means is non of the recording means
Automatic focus adjustment in the recording state or movie recording state
If the means operates, change the operation mode to the second mode.
When the above recording means performs still image recording,
The operation mode is set to the first mode.
It is characterized in that it is.

A second image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is a two-dimensional photoelectric conversion apparatus.
An image sensor having a switching unit, and an output based on the output of the image sensor.
Signal processing means for generating a video signal of a predetermined format
A stage, recording means for recording the video signal, and the imaging element
An automatic focus adjustment unit that operates based on the output of the
The signal reading from the photoelectric conversion unit of the image sensor is inter
First mode for obtaining image signals by race reading
Signal reading from the photoelectric conversion unit of the image sensor.
Image signal obtained by non-interlaced readout
To automatically switch between the two operation modes with the second mode
Operation mode automatic switching means.
The automatic switching means is provided when the recording means is in the non-recording state.
When the above automatic focus adjustment means operates, the operation mode is
The second mode is set, and the recording means executes recording.
In this case, set the operation mode to the first mode.
Wherein the automatic focus adjustment means is
When operating when the recording means is in the non-recording state
Continuous sampling is performed, and the above recording means records moving images.
Works when running intermittent sampling
Characterized in that it is configured to perform
You.

A third image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is based on an image pickup device having a two-dimensional photoelectric conversion unit and an output from the image pickup device.
Signal processing means for generating a video signal of a predetermined format
And a recording means for recording the video signal.
An imaging device, wherein the video signal is continuously transmitted to the imaging device.
Further comprising external output means for outputting to the outside of the
The photoelectric conversion unit of the imaging device through an external output unit
Signal reading from the
Done by non-interlaced readout
Identification information on whether the
It is characterized by being constituted so that power may be applied.

[0024]

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. First, prior to describing an embodiment of the present invention, a basic concept of the present invention will be described below.

In an electronic still camera, a video movie or the like having a built-in image pickup device, AF operation, recording operation (including field recording and frame recording), EVF display,
Each function has a function of outputting a video signal to an external device connected to an external output terminal. These functions are a first mode in which an imager is interlaced and an image signal is obtained by reading the imager in a non-interlaced manner. The degree and nature of the request for both the operation mode and the second mode for obtaining

That is, the AF operation requires the second mode, the frame recording requires the first mode, and the EVF display and the external output require the first mode. The second mode may be required only for special applications such as.

As described above, the requirements for the readout mode possessed by each function are different, but the priority of each function in the camera operation is naturally determined. That is, recording in the camera is usually the highest priority, and AF has a higher priority. On the other hand, in the case of an EVF in which image information is simply monitored, even if the image quality is slightly lowered, the priority may be lowered for a certain time. In addition, the external output is used in various ways, so that the priority becomes higher or lower.

This is divided into still photography and movie photography, and the priority of each function is concretely represented by an inequality sign as shown in Table 1 below.

[0030]

[Table 1] A few remarks are added to Table 1 above. (1) Case 1 during still photography is a functional order in a conventional electronic still camera, and cannot be recorded unless a focusing operation is completed. In contrast, Case 2 can be recorded even before the focusing operation is completed.

(2) Movie shooting will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 which will be described later. Since case 2 is movie shooting, it is assumed that there is no major problem in image quality even if the first mode is entered during recording. . In case 3, image quality is slightly prioritized over case 2. Furthermore, in case 4, the image quality is given the highest priority, but a slight decrease in the image quality is permitted during non-recording (EVF).

Therefore, the basic idea of the present invention is to set the priority of each operation state of the camera such as recording and AF shown in Table 1 above.
It is intended to appropriately control the scanning mode of the camera. Next, examples will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a main part of an electronic still camera capable of movie recording by switching. As an imager, an interline transfer CCD is used in a field accumulation system.

The subject image transmitted through the photographing lens 1 is formed on each photodiode surface forming a light receiving section of the interline transfer type CCD 2 and photoelectrically converted. Same CCD
2 is an SS including a driver circuit for driving the CCD 2
The accumulated charge is interlaced or non-interlaced by various pulse signals supplied from a G (synchronous signal generator) 4. The operation of the SSG 4 is controlled by a system controller 5 that controls the operation sequence of the entire processing apparatus.

An output signal from the CCD 2 is input to a process circuit 3, which is an electric signal processing circuit, and subjected to signal processing.
Recording system 8 for recording the subject image, E for monitoring the subject image
The VF 7 is supplied to an AF contrast detection circuit 6 for detecting contrast information for the imager AF, an external output terminal 9 for outputting a signal to an external device such as a TV monitor and a printer, and the like. The recording system 8 is a still image recording device using a still video floppy in the case of an electronic still camera, but a solid-state memory card is used in digital recording. In the case of video movie, VT
The R deck corresponds.

A frame recording enable signal (hereinafter, referred to as an FR enable signal) is sent from the system controller 5 to the external output terminal 9.
The enable signal outputs whether or not the signal output from the process circuit 3 can be subjected to frame recording as a combination of logical levels of H / L as described later.

When switching between interlaced reading and non-interlaced reading, depending on the processing system of this process system, the operation of the color separation circuit and the like can be performed normally only by simply switching the driving pulse supplied from the SSG 4 to the CCD 2. Not always. In such a case, the control pulse supplied from the SSG 4 to the process circuit 3 must be switched in accordance with each situation. However, this is not the essence of the present invention, and the detailed description here will be omitted. Description is omitted.

The AF contrast detection circuit 6, to which the video signal output from the process circuit 3 is input, extracts contrast information from the video signal using, for example, an electric filter or the like, and detects the contrast from any range in the image. The focus area is processed to determine whether information is to be obtained, and the information is supplied to the system controller 5. Then, based on the contrast information for each field, the system controller 5 extends or retracts the photographing lens 1 via the lens driver 10 and moves the photographing lens 1 while observing a change in the contrast information obtained corresponding thereto. A so-called hill-climbing operation for driving to a focal point is performed.

The operation of the embodiment constructed as described above will be described below with reference to the timing charts of FIGS. FIG. 2 is a typical time chart of the still mode in the electronic still camera, and shows how the mode is switched between the interlace mode and the non-interlace mode. The trigger switch used here is set to A when the first-stage release switch is turned on by the half-press operation.
The F and AE operations are performed, and a standby operation for recording, that is, a start-up of a spindle motor in a still camera using a floppy disk is performed. Next, when the trigger switch is fully pressed, the second-stage release switch is turned on and the actual recording operation is started. In this embodiment, the half-press operation of the release button is performed twice,
Therefore, the ON of the first-stage release switch is 11
Are performed twice, and the AF operation is also performed twice in response to this.

The AF operation 12 is started at time t1 in response to the ON state 11 of the first-stage release switch started at time t0. At the same time, the EVF display 13 and the external output ON 14 are simultaneously performed, and both of these operations are continued until a series of photographing operations is completed. In this case, as described in the basic concept, the AF operation is the most important of the AF, EVF, and external output operations. Therefore, the scanning mode in which the AF operation can be reliably performed, that is, the non-interlace mode 15 is used. The selected and the FR enable signal is set to “L” level 16.

Here, the FR enable signal will be described. When this signal is transmitted to an external device via the external output terminal 9 (see FIG. 1), the external device receives the FR enable signal and By selecting the logical level, it is recognized that the mode is the interlace mode if the level is "H" and that the mode is the non-interlace mode if the level is "L". This allows direct control of the display mode and recording mode of the dedicated external device. Alternatively, even when using a non-dedicated device, for example, a printer, the printer usually has a remote control terminal, and when recording using the remote control terminal, the remote control signal is gated by this signal, etc. In addition, the recording operation of the external device can be substantially limited to only the time of the interlace. This need not necessarily be automatic. For example, display may be performed according to this signal, and a human may monitor the display to determine the timing of recording.

When the AF operation 12 ends at time t2, E
Only the VF display 13 and the external output 14 will be performed successively. However, these two operations are preferably performed in the interlace mode. Therefore, the scanning mode is returned from the non-interlace mode 15 to the interlace mode 17, and the FR enable signal is changed from the "L" level 16 to the "H" level 18. Therefore, when the external device detects that the FR enable signal has become “H” level, for example, in the case of an external device such as a printer, highly accurate frame recording can be performed.

At time t3, in response to the second half-press operation of the release button, the second turn-on of the first-stage release switch 21 is performed, and at time t4, the AF operation 22 is executed again. At this time, the EVF and the external output are both turned on, but since the AF operation has priority as described above, the scanning mode is set to the non-interlace mode 23 and the FR enable signal is set to the “L” level 24. When the AF operation 22 ends at time t5, the scan mode and the FR enable signal are returned to the interlace mode 25 and the “H” level 26, respectively, as in the first time.

At time t6, the release button is fully pressed and
When the stage release switch is turned on 27, the time t
7, a recording operation 28 is performed. This recording operation is indicated by a solid line 25.
As shown by, the operation is usually performed in the interlaced mode, and especially in the case of frame recording, interlaced scanning must be performed.

However, when tracking a delicate movement of a subject in continuous shooting or recording for a special purpose in image processing, in interlaced reading, fields recorded continuously are changed from odd fields to even fields or vice versa. Since the field is switched from the even field to the odd field, the deviation of the scanning line may actually occur and cause a problem. In such a case, the dashed lines 29 and 30 in the figure
As shown in the above, it is necessary to select the non-interlace mode for recording, but this is because recording has priority over any other operation, as described in the basic concept, so that EVF display or external output In particular, switching to non-interlace reading is performed. However, when the recording operation 28 is completed, it is desirable to perform the scanning in the interlace mode for the EVF operation and the external output as described above, so that the operation returns to the interlace mode.

The above is the operation of this embodiment in the still mode. Next, the operation of this embodiment in the movie mode will be described in three cases with reference to the time chart of FIG.

First, the first movie mode will be described. In general, in the movie mode, the purpose is to record for a long time, so that the image quality degradation for a short time does not matter. Therefore, it is considered that the AF operation does not need to be focused so fast, and as shown in the case (1) in the movie mode in Table 1 described in the above basic concept, the interlaced read mode corresponding to the high-quality frame recording. And the AF operation is intermittent sampling.

The reason for this is as follows. Since it is intended to obtain AF information for each field in the interlace mode,
This is because field flicker causes a problem, and if AF is performed intermittently by sampling every even field, for example, every two fields, four fields, and six fields, the AF operation will not be hindered even in the interlace mode.

Next, the second movie mode will be described.
This is based on the idea that the focusing operation is desired to be performed at high speed and with high accuracy even in the movie mode. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the AF operation 31 is executed, the scanning mode is set to the non-interlace mode 32 and the FR enable signal is set to the “L” level 33.

The reason why such a setting does not cause a problem will be explained. At the start of the normal AF operation, since the subject is largely in a large blur state largely deviating from the in-focus point, high-speed operation is performed. In addition, it is necessary to perform the AF operation continuously. Non-interlaced scanning 32
However, once the focus point is reached, the subsequent AF operations 34 and 35 are performed only intermittently.

Therefore, even if the scanning is normally performed in the interlaced mode and the scanning is performed in the non-interlaced mode only at the time of AF, as described above, since the purpose of the movie is to record for a long time, slight deterioration of the image quality does not matter. It is.

Next, the third mood mode will be described. This is a combination of the first and second mood modes,
The high-speed focusing operation 31 from the large blur state shown in FIG. 3 is the same as the non-interlace mode. However, if the high-speed focusing operation 31 is completed and the standby state is entered, the first intermittent AF operations 34 and 35 will not be performed in the first state.
As in the mood mode, the scanning mode is set to interlace modes 36 and 37 indicated by broken lines, and the FR enable signal is set to "H" levels 38 and 39 at which frames can be recorded. That is, in the third movie mode, the AF operation is divided into a high-speed focusing operation and an intermittent operation during standby, and scanning is performed in the non-interlace mode only during the high-speed focusing operation.

Although the above description has been made on the case where the inter-line transfer CCD of the field accumulation type is used, the present embodiment is not limited to this. It is an effective technical idea.

The concept of appropriately controlling the scanning mode according to the priority of each function in the camera described in the above embodiment is effective for all kinds of imagers. Applicable to all of the -Y address system and the frame transfer type.

Further, in the above embodiment, the field accumulation mode has been described as an example of the normal mode. However, even in a system operating in the frame accumulation mode, accumulation is performed using only the same pixels (photodiodes) as in the frame accumulation mode. Cut the time in half, or fields. If a special driving method such as discharging extra charges contained in unused pixels to an overflow drain or the like is used, the sensitivity of the interlaced driving in the normal frame accumulation mode is reduced to half, It is also possible to switch to non-interlace driving for operation.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first mode in which the imager is interlaced and the image signal is obtained by the operation mode automatic switching means, and the second mode in which the imager is non-interlaced and the image signal is obtained. AF (automatic adjustment means) at the time of both operation modes
Automatically among the noise components superimposed on the contrast signal of the imager AF, there is a remarkable effect that the influence of interlace reading, which is considered to be the main cause of the two-feed synchronization component, can be eliminated. Be demonstrated.

Further, both modes are switched according to the operation state of the recording means or the like, and a signal for identifying which mode is output, so that the two modes are switched. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of the recording image quality, which may occur as a by-product.

[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 time chart in the still mode in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a time chart in the movie mode in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of one vertical column of an interline transfer CCD.

FIG. 5 is a time chart of signals of various parts applied to the vertical transfer CCD in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a scanning mode.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram when interlaced reading of a reference subject is performed in a field accumulation mode by an interline transfer CCD.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of contrast information output for each of interlaced reading and non-interlaced reading in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 4: SSG (operation mode automatic switching means) 5: System controller (operation mode automatic switching means)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An image pickup device having a two-dimensional photoelectric conversion unit, and an image of a predetermined format based on an output of the image pickup device.
Signal processing means for generating an image signal, recording means for recording the video signal, and an automatic focusing adjustment device which operates based on the output of the image sensor
A first mode in which a signal is read from the photoelectric conversion unit of the image sensor by interlaced reading to obtain an image signal, and an image signal is read by non-interlaced reading of the signal from the photoelectric converter in the image sensor. obtaining an operation mode automatic switching means for switching the two operation modes automatically the second mode, comprising a, the operation mode automatic switching means is non-recording of said recording means
The automatic focus adjustment means in the state or the moving image recording state.
Set the operation mode to the above-mentioned 2nd mode when operates
However, if the recording means performs still image recording,
A mode configured to set the mode to the first mode.
An imaging device , characterized in that: 2. An imaging device having a two-dimensional photoelectric conversion unit, and an image of a predetermined format based on an output of the imaging device.
Signal processing means for generating an image signal, recording means for recording the video signal, and an automatic focusing adjustment device which operates based on the output of the image sensor
And reading the signal from the photoelectric conversion unit of the image sensor.
First mode for obtaining an image signal by performing
Read from the photoelectric conversion unit of the image sensor.
Image signal by non-interlaced readout
Automatically switch between the two operation modes with the second mode to obtain
Comprising an operation mode automatic switching means for the said operating mode automatic switching means is non-recording of said recording means
When the automatic focus adjustment means operates in the state
The operation mode is set to the second mode, and the recording means
When performing recording, change the operation mode to the first mode.
The automatic focusing adjustment means is configured to set the recording means in a non-recording state.
If it works at a certain time, perform continuous sampling.
Operates when the recording means performs moving image recording
Configured for intermittent sampling in cases
An imaging device, characterized in that: 3. An image sensor having a two-dimensional photoelectric conversion unit,
Based on the output of the image pickup device,
Signal processing means for generating an image signal, and recording the video signal
Recording means for continuously outputting the video signal to the outside of the imaging device.
Further comprising an external output unit for performing the photoelectric conversion of the imaging device via the external output unit.
Signal reading from the
Is performed by non-interlaced readout.
Identification information on whether the
An imaging device, which is configured to output.