JP4182730B2 - Imaging apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and method for displaying a captured image via a liquid crystal display surface, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus and method suitable for focus adjustment of one divided image area designated by a user.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in an imaging apparatus typified by a video camera, a photographed image is displayed on a screen of an electronic viewfinder configured using a light modulation element such as a liquid crystal display element. In some cases, it is desired to adjust the focus by magnifying and displaying a specific shooting target from the image displayed on the electronic viewfinder. In such a case, the imaging apparatus captures an image of the specific imaging target, enlarges it, and displays it on the electronic viewfinder.
[0003]
In such image enlargement processing, image size adjustment is usually performed with interpolation processing. Incidentally, as an example of the interpolation processing, there are pre-value interpolation by so-called zero-order hold, linear interpolation for generating an interpolation pixel by a plurality of reference pixels, and the like. Conventionally, an image size adjustment process by linear interpolation has been proposed in order to more suitably realize an image size adjustment process related to an image for display (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 12-059663
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even in an imaging device that can realize image size adjustment by linear interpolation, the image displayed on the electronic viewfinder is focused on the subject to be photographed at the center position h shown in FIG. For this reason, if it is desired to adjust the focus for a specific shooting target at the position h ′, the image center of the electronic viewfinder is set to the center position even if an autofocus function is added to the imaging apparatus. It is necessary to manually adjust the position from h to the position h ′, and there is a need to move the imaging device once fixed again. Especially in recent years when the electronic viewfinder has been downsized to about 1.5 to 2 inches, the displayed image becomes extremely small, and as a result, the above-described adjustment work becomes more complicated and difficult.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention has been devised in view of the above-described problems, While simplifying the operation method, LCD display On the face An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus and method capable of performing imaging while adjusting the focus of a specified specific imaging target from among displayed images and displaying the enlarged image.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present inventor prompts the user to perform a designation operation for any one of the divided image areas displayed on the liquid crystal display surface. Invented an imaging apparatus and method for adjusting the focus of a subject to be imaged and taking an image thereof, and further performing image size adjustment with interpolation processing.
[0008]
That is, in order to solve the above-described problems, an imaging apparatus to which the present invention is applied is based on an imaging unit that outputs at least a captured image as a field image signal, and a plurality of field image signals output from the imaging unit. Display control means for generating a display image composed of divided image areas and displaying the image on a liquid crystal display surface; A divided image region that includes a single changeover switch and that is associated with each pressing time of the changeover switch operated by the user is designated from a plurality of divided image regions that are displayed on the liquid crystal display surface. Designated control means and designated control means By Focus control means for controlling the focus of the imaging means for the subject displayed in the designated divided image area, and image size adjustment with interpolation processing for the divided image signal based on the subject imaged by the imaging means And an image size adjusting means for executing the display control means. The display control means prompts the user for a designation operation for the divided image area, and further displays an image for display based on the divided image signal adjusted by the image size adjusting means. Is generated and displayed on the liquid crystal display surface.
[0009]
Further, in order to solve the above-described problems, the imaging method to which the present invention is applied outputs at least a captured image as a field image signal, and includes a plurality of divided image regions based on the output field image signal. A display image is generated and displayed on the liquid crystal display surface. A divided image area corresponding to each pressing time of a single changeover switch operated by the user is designated from a plurality of divided image areas displayed on the liquid crystal display surface, Controls the focus for the subject displayed in the specified divided image area, performs image size adjustment with interpolation processing on the divided image signal based on the captured subject, and based on the divided image signal that has been adjusted. , Imaged A display image is generated and displayed on the liquid crystal display surface.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is applied to, for example, a video camera 100 configured as shown in FIG.
[0011]
The video camera 100 receives an imaging output signal CMout in a format corresponding to an imaging unit 12 to which imaging light is incident via an imaging lens system and a device connected to the video camera 100 from an imaging signal Spa by the imaging unit 12. The main system block 11 to be generated and output, the monitor system block 30 to generate and output the imaging output signal MTout for monitoring from the image signal Dq obtained by the main system block 11, the main system block 11 and the monitor system block 30 A control unit 50 for controlling the operation of the control unit 50, an operation unit 51 for supplying the control unit 50 with an operation signal PS corresponding to a user operation, and the like.
[0012]
In the video camera 100, light incident through the imaging lens system 10 enters the imaging unit 12 constituting the main line system block 11, and a subject image is formed on the imaging surface. The imaging unit 12 is configured by using a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD image sensor, and generates an imaging signal Spa of three primary colors corresponding to a subject image by photoelectric conversion to generate CDS (Corelated Double Sampling) / AGC (Auto Gain Control). 13 is supplied. Further, the imaging unit 12 may be provided with a stepping motor or the like that adjusts the distance of the imaging lens system 10 to the subject based on the control by the control unit 50.
[0013]
The CDS / AGC 13 performs correlated double sampling processing to remove noise components from the imaging signal Spa. Further, the signal from which the noise component has been removed is amplified to a predetermined signal level and supplied to the low-pass filter (LPF) 14 as the imaging signal Spb. The reduction filter 14 extracts an original signal spectral component from the imaging signal Spb supplied from the CDS / AGC 13 and supplies it to the amplifier 15 as an imaging signal Spc. The amplifier 15 amplifies the supplied imaging signal Spc and supplies it to the A / D converter 16 as an imaging signal Spd. The A / D converter 16 converts the supplied imaging signal Spd into a digital imaging signal Dp and supplies it to the camera signal processing unit 20.
[0014]
The camera signal processing unit 20 performs signal processing on the supplied imaging signal Dp so that a good captured image can be obtained. For example, signal processing such as shading correction, masking correction, knee correction, γ correction, and contour compensation is performed, and an image signal Dq is generated from the imaging signal Dp and supplied to the selector 25 and the image display unit 31 of the monitor block 30.
[0015]
The image display control unit 31 generates an image signal Dr of a luminance reference image that serves as a reference for determining the luminance of the captured image, and uses the image signal Dr and the image signal Dq supplied from the camera signal processing unit 20. The adjusted image signal is generated. Further, signal processing such as brightness and contrast adjustment is performed on the generated image signal, and the obtained image signal Du is supplied to the monitor output processing unit 35 and the selector 25 of the main system block 11. The details of the image display control unit will be described later in detail.
[0016]
The selector 25 selects either the image signal Dq supplied from the camera signal processing unit 20 or the image signal Du supplied from the image display control unit 31 based on a control signal from the control unit 50 described later, and outputs the camera. This is supplied to the processing unit 28.
[0017]
The camera output processing unit 28 converts the image signal Dq or the image signal Du supplied from the selector 25 into a signal CMout corresponding to a device connected to the video camera and outputs the signal CMout. For example, when a device corresponding to a component signal or a device corresponding to a composite signal is connected, the signal is converted into a signal CMout corresponding to each device and output. When transmitting an image signal through a serial digital interface or the like standardized as SMPTE 259M, transmission data corresponding to the interface standard is generated using the image signal supplied from the selector 25 and output as a signal CMout. To do.
[0018]
The monitor output processing unit 35 converts the image signal Du supplied from the image display control unit 31 into a signal MTout corresponding to the liquid crystal display unit 37 and outputs it. For example, when the liquid crystal display unit 37 uses an analog signal, the image signal Du is converted into an analog signal and output as a signal MTout.
[0019]
For example, the liquid crystal display unit 37 typified by an electronic viewfinder includes a liquid crystal display element or the like, and constitutes a display that displays information to the user. The liquid crystal display unit 37 generates an image to be displayed to the user by optically modulating the liquid crystal display element based on the signal MTout input from the monitor output processing unit 35.
[0020]
An operation unit 51 is connected to the control unit 50, and an operation signal PS is supplied to the control unit 50 in accordance with an operation by the user of the operation unit 51. The control unit 50 generates various control signals CT based on the operation signal PS and supplies them to the main system block 11 and the monitor system block 30 to operate the video camera 100 according to the user operation. Further, by transmitting this control signal CT to the main line system block 11, the focus adjustment in the imaging unit 12 can be executed. The control unit 50 is supplied with a determination signal Ha, which will be described later, from the image display control unit 31, and generates and monitors control signals CTr, CTm, CTz, CTbc and the like based on the determination signal Ha and the operation signal PS. Supply to the system block 30.
[0021]
Next, details of the image display control unit 31 will be described. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image display control unit 31.
[0022]
The image signal Dq supplied from the camera signal processing unit 20 is supplied to the determination circuit 300 and also supplied to the frame memory 301 or the selector 304.
[0023]
The determination circuit 300 performs signal determination of the image signal Dq supplied from the camera signal processing unit 20. In this signal discrimination, the signal format of the image signal Dq and the brightness and color of the captured image based on the image signal Dq are discriminated, and a discrimination signal Ha indicating the discrimination result is generated and supplied to the control unit 50. .
[0024]
The frame memory 301 sequentially stores the input image signal Dq at a predetermined address according to the control signal CTr supplied from the control unit. The image signal Dq stored in the frame memory 301 is sequentially read out by the rate conversion unit 302. The rate conversion unit 302 writes the image signal Dq read from the frame memory 301 in its own line memory (not shown). The rate conversion unit 302 performs interpolation processing while reading the image signal Dq written in a line memory (not shown). The rate conversion unit 302 transmits the image signal Dq subjected to this interpolation processing to the aperture control unit 303.
[0025]
The aperture control unit 303 performs aperture correction on the image signal Dq transmitted from the rate conversion unit 302 according to the control signal CTz, and supplies this to the selector 304. By performing this aperture correction, the frequency characteristics of the image signal Dq can be improved, and the sharpness of the image can be substantially improved.
[0026]
The selector 304 is supplied with the image signal Dq from the camera processing unit 20 or the aperture control unit 303, respectively. The selector 304 transmits each of the supplied image signals to the luminance / contrast adjustment circuit 314.
[0027]
The brightness / contrast adjustment circuit 314 receives the image signal Dq supplied from the camera signal processing unit 20 based on the control signal CTbc supplied from the control unit 50 so that an image signal having desired brightness and contrast can be obtained. The luminance signal level is adjusted by controlling the gain. The image signal Dq whose signal level has been adjusted by the brightness / contrast adjustment circuit 314 is supplied to the selector 25 or the monitor output processing unit 35 as the image signal Du.
[0028]
Next, operations of the monitor system block 30, the control unit 50, and the operation unit 51 will be described.
[0029]
First, in the image display control unit 31, an image signal Dq for one frame is supplied from the camera signal processing unit 20. The supplied image signal Dq for one frame is transmitted to the brightness / contrast adjustment circuit 314 via the determination circuit 300 and the selector 304, respectively. In the determination circuit 300, after performing the above-described determination based on the received image signal Dq, the determination signal Ha is supplied to the control unit 50.
[0030]
The control unit 50 identifies each image information such as brightness and color from the supplied discrimination signal Ha. Then, the control unit 50 generates a control signal CTbc corresponding to the identification result and supplies it to the luminance / contrast adjustment circuit 314. Incidentally, the control signal CTbc also includes divided area information Nc for dividing an image signal for one frame into a plurality of divided image areas.
[0031]
The brightness / contrast adjustment circuit 314 generates an image signal Du by adjusting the brightness signal level of the image signal Dq according to the received control signal CTbc to increase or decreasing the brightness signal level. The luminance / contrast adjustment circuit 314 adjusts the luminance signal level so that a plurality of divided image areas are displayed in one frame image based on the divided area information Nc included in the control signal CTbc.
[0032]
Based on the image signal Du generated by the brightness / contrast adjustment circuit 314, the frame image normally displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 37 displays, for example, lines indicating a plurality of divided image areas as shown in FIG. The In the example shown in FIG. 3, the size of the divided image area is set to ¼ the size of the frame image, and is arranged at each of the five locations of the center, upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right. Note that the size, number, and arrangement of the divided image regions may be any as long as they are set in advance.
[0033]
The user performs a designation operation via the operation unit 51 when an enlarged display of one divided image region is desired from among the divided image regions displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 37. For example, when the designation operation is executed via the operation unit 51 so as to enlarge and display the divided image region (upper left), an operation signal PS indicating that the divided image region (upper left) is designated is displayed in the operation unit 51. Is generated and transmitted to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 transmits a control signal CT for focusing on the divided image region (upper left) to the main block 11 based on the operation signal PS.
[0034]
The main line block 11 performs focus adjustment to focus on the subject displayed in the divided image region (upper left) based on the control signal CT. In the main block 11, the subject displayed in the divided image region (upper left) is newly imaged, and an image signal Dq is generated and supplied to the monitor block 30. Hereinafter, the image signal Dq obtained by newly imaging the divided image area is referred to as a divided image signal Dq.
[0035]
The image display control unit 31 to which the divided image signal Dq is supplied sequentially writes it in the frame memory 301. The written divided image signal Dq is sequentially read out by the rate conversion unit 302 and subjected to interpolation processing. 4 and 5 show an example in which the image size is doubled by the previous value interpolation based on the so-called 0th-order hold. First, the divided image signal Dq is sent to the frame memory 301 from each horizontal line (L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ , L ₄ ,...) Are written sequentially. The rate conversion unit 302 then converts the horizontal line L located at the top of the frame image. ₁ Are sequentially read from the field memory 301 and stored in a line memory (not shown). Further, the rate conversion unit 302 uses the horizontal line L stored in its own line memory. ₁ Are read out by switching the interpolation filter at 1/2 speed, in other words, at a normal 1/2 frequency. As a result, the horizontal line L ₁ Can be doubled in the horizontal direction. Further, by performing this read operation twice in succession, the horizontal line L ₁ Can be doubled in the vertical direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. ₁ This image can be magnified twice as much.
[0036]
Horizontal line L ₁ After adjusting the image size of the next pixel, the horizontal line L ₂ By sequentially reading out the pixels and converting the rate, the image in the divided image region (upper left) can be enlarged twice.
[0037]
The divided image signals Dq constituting these enlarged images are subjected to aperture correction and brightness / contrast adjustment, and after being changed to the signal MTout by the monitor output processing unit, are enlarged and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 37 as described above.
[0038]
That is, the image of the divided image region (upper left) designated by the user is subjected to the focus adjustment through the above-described operation, and is further magnified and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 37. The contents of the recorded image can be easily visually confirmed. Further, the main line block 11 can take an image by performing focus adjustment based on the control signal CT of the control unit 50, and the image display control unit 31 performs an interpolation process on the image subjected to the focus adjustment. Since the accompanying image size adjustment is performed, the visibility by the user can be further improved.
[0039]
Even if the autofocus function does not exist in the video camera 100, it is possible to adjust the focus manually and accurately by enlarging and displaying a specific subject. FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the number of identifiable pixels arranged on the liquid crystal display unit 37 and visual acuity. If the user has a visual acuity of 1.0, if there are about 800 pixels or more arranged per line, the difference in luminance level cannot be recognized as the screen becomes more delicate, and there is a slight focus shift. I can't tell. On the other hand, when about 400 pixels are arranged per line, the difference in luminance level for each pixel can be easily identified. If a 2-inch electronic viewfinder is used, a user with a visual acuity of 1.0 is able to obtain a luminance level by enlarging a divided image area of 480 pixels per line in a frame image in which 960 pixels are arranged per line. Can be easily identified, and the focus can be adjusted more accurately.
[0040]
In addition, in the video camera to which the present invention is applied, the center of the image of the liquid crystal display unit 37 is selected when the focus adjustment is desired by enlarging the specific shooting target from the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 37. This can be achieved by simply specifying the divided image area without manual adjustment, which can reduce the burden of the user's labor, and also requires the once-fixed imaging device to be moved again Therefore, the imaging time can be shortened and the imaging accuracy can be improved.
[0041]
In particular, in a video camera to which the present invention is applied, even if the liquid crystal display unit 37 is a small viewfinder of about 1.5 to 2 inches and the displayed image is extremely small, it is only necessary to designate a divided image area. This is advantageous in that the focus can be adjusted for a desired enlarged image.
[0042]
In the video camera 100 to which the present invention is applied, in the interpolation processing in the image display control unit 31, not only the previous value interpolation described above but also linear interpolation, for example, may be used.
[0043]
Further, in the video camera 100 to which the present invention is applied, not only when the image display control unit 31 that temporarily stores the supplied divided image signal in the frame memory 301 is applied, for example, a plurality of line memories as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the image display control unit 31a that performs linear interpolation may be applied.
[0044]
The image display control unit 31a includes a determination circuit 300, an aperture control 303, a selector 304, a luminance / contrast adjustment circuit 314, a first line memory 321 in which the divided image signal Dq is alternately written for each line, and A second line memory 322, an arithmetic unit 323 that performs an operation for linear interpolation on the divided image signals for each line read from the first line memory 321 and the second line memory 323, and a control Based on the control signal CTr supplied from the unit 50, the switch 324 is connected to one output terminal of the first line memory 321, the second line memory 322, and the arithmetic unit 323, and the switch 324 is supplied. Filter the divided image signal and send it to the aperture control unit 303 The filter 325 is provided. In addition, about this image display control part 31a, about the component same as the image display control part 31, the same number is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0045]
When the divided image signal Dq is supplied to such an image display control unit 31a, the divided image signal Dq is first sent to each line shown in FIG. 4 for the first line memory 321 and the second line memory 322. (L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ , L ₄ , ...) are written alternately.
[0046]
FIG. 8 shows the writing and reading processing of the divided image signal Dq in the first line memory 321 and the second line memory 322 in time series. First term t ₂₁ At horizontal line L ₁ The upper pixel is written into the first line memory 321. This written horizontal line L ₁ For the next period t ₂₂ , Under the control of the control unit 50, the data are sequentially read out and written to the liquid crystal display element in the liquid crystal display unit 37 at twice the normal speed. That is, since the image size is doubled by adjusting the image size, even if the number of pixels to be displayed via the liquid crystal display element 37 is doubled for the same imaging content, the time for writing to the liquid crystal display element per pixel By reducing ½, display time delay can be prevented.
[0047]
Next, period t ₂₃ To the horizontal line L ₂ Are written to the second line memory 322. This period t ₂₃ , The calculation unit 323 generates the horizontal line L written in the first line memory 321. ₁ Pixels and the horizontal line L written in the second line memory 322. ₂ Are read out under the control of the control unit 50 and subjected to calculation for linear interpolation, and then a horizontal line L made up of the interpolation pixels. _{1 + 2} To produce. This horizontal line L _{1 + 2} The interpolated pixels are sequentially written into the liquid crystal display element.
[0048]
Next, period t ₂₄ , The horizontal line L written in the second line memory 322 ₂ These pixels are sequentially read out and written to the liquid crystal display element in the liquid crystal display unit 37. The next period t ₂₅ The horizontal line L with respect to the first line memory 321 also in FIG. ₃ Pixels are written, and the calculation unit 323 generates a horizontal line L ₂ And horizontal line L ₃ Horizontal line L consisting of interpolated pixels with _{2 + 3} To produce.
[0049]
By repeating the above operation, it is possible to realize image size adjustment by linear interpolation based on information for two lines.
[0050]
Further, in the present invention, the designation operation of the divided image area by the user may be realized by the flow shown in FIG. 9 (a), for example.
[0051]
First, in step S11, when an enlargement switch (SW) (not shown) provided in the operation unit 51 is pressed by the user, the process proceeds to step S12, and the control unit 50 identifies the pressing time of the enlargement switch. As a result, when the pressing time of the enlargement SW is 2 seconds or more, the process proceeds to step S13, and when the pressing time is 2 seconds or less, the process proceeds to step S14.
[0052]
In step S <b> 13, the control unit 50 determines that the divided image region (center) has been selected, and transmits a control signal CT to that effect to the main system block 11. As a result, an image obtained by doubling the divided image area is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 37.
[0053]
In addition, after the image whose image size has been adjusted is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 37, the process proceeds to step S14, and the control unit 50 identifies the pressing time of the enlargement switch again. As a result, when the pressing time of the enlargement SW is 1 second or longer, the process proceeds to step S15, and when the pressing time is 1 second or less, the process proceeds to step S11.
[0054]
In step S <b> 15, the control unit 50 determines that another divided image region has been selected, and transmits a control signal CT to that effect to the main system block 11. As a result, an enlarged image of the other divided image area is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 37. By the way, this divided image area is selected by sequentially shifting from the center to the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right as shown in FIG. 9 (b) every time the processes of steps S14 and S15 are repeatedly executed. However, it is not limited to this order, and can be arbitrarily set according to the imaging situation.
[0055]
In step S16, when an image for one frame is normally displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 37, a desired divided image region can be selected by repeatedly executing steps S11, S12, and S16. That is, each time the user presses the enlargement SW, steps S11, S12, and S16 are repeated. As a result, the divided image areas are sequentially shifted and selected in the order shown in FIG. . On the other hand, when the enlarged display is already performed on the liquid crystal display unit 37, the display is switched to the normal display.
[0056]
Thus, the user can easily select the divided image area by turning on / off the single enlargement SW. In particular, it is necessary to perform various other operations at the time of imaging. However, since it is sufficient to press at least a single enlarged SW for selection of the divided image region, the operation method can be simplified. It becomes possible to reduce the burden of labor.
[0057]
In the divided image region designation operation shown in FIG. 9, selection of the divided image region (center) is preferentially prompted through steps S12 and S13. For this reason, since the divided image area (center) that has already been subjected to focus adjustment during normal display can be preferentially enlarged, the step of performing separate focus adjustment can be omitted, and the user can be quickly An enlarged image can be provided.
[0058]
Incidentally, the pressing time of the enlargement SW is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 9 and can be set to an arbitrary time according to the usage status of the video camera 100.
[0059]
As an alternative to the enlargement SW, a pressure sensitive panel 41 corresponding to the divided image area may be disposed on the bottom surface of the liquid crystal display element of the liquid crystal display unit 37 as shown in FIG. The pressure sensitive panel 41 is a resistance film type panel that changes a voltage to be output according to a pressed area. By detecting the output voltage from the pressure-sensitive panel, the control unit 50 can easily identify which divided image area has been selected, and can further simplify the complicated selection operation of the user.
[0060]
In the present invention, the case where the image size is adjusted to double the divided image area has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image size may be adjusted to any magnification.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, the imaging apparatus and method to which the present invention is applied include: A divided image area corresponding to each pressing time of a single changeover switch operated by the user is designated from a plurality of divided image areas displayed on the liquid crystal display surface, The imaging object displayed in the designated divided image area is focused and imaged, and image size adjustment involving interpolation processing is executed.
[0062]
As a result, the imaging apparatus and method to which the present invention is applied can perform focus adjustment for one designated divided image region, and further realize image size adjustment with interpolation processing. Can be improved. Also When a single changeover switch is pressed by the user, a divided image area is specified, and the specified specific shooting target is focused and imaged, Since it is possible to realize enlarged display, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user's labor, and further reduce the necessity of moving the imaging device once fixed again, thereby shortening the imaging time and improving the imaging accuracy. Can also be planned.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video camera to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image display control unit.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a divided image region.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining previous value interpolation;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing previous value interpolation in time series.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the number of identifiable pixels arranged on a liquid crystal display unit and visual acuity.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image display control unit that performs linear interpolation using a plurality of line memories.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing linear interpolation in time series.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a division image region designation operation.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining conventional image size adjustment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Imaging lens system, 11 Main line system block, 12 Imaging part, 13 CDS / AGC, 14 Reduction filter, 15 Amplifier, 16 A / D converter, 20 Camera signal processing part, 25 Selector, 28 Camera output processing part, 30 Monitor System block, 31 Image display control unit, 35 Monitor output processing unit, 37 Liquid crystal display unit, 41 Pressure sensitive panel, 50 Control unit, 51 Operation unit, 100 Video camera

Claims (8)

Imaging means for outputting the captured image as at least a field image signal;
Display control means for generating a display image composed of a plurality of divided image areas based on the field image signal output from the imaging means, and displaying the display image on a liquid crystal display surface;
A divided image area that includes a single changeover switch and that is associated with each pressing time of the changeover switch operated by the user is designated from a plurality of divided image areas that are displayed on the liquid crystal display surface. Designated control means;
The subject that is displayed in the specified divided image areas by the specified control unit, and a focus control means for controlling the focus of said imaging means,
Image size adjustment means for executing image size adjustment with interpolation processing for the divided image signal based on the subject imaged by the imaging means,
The display control means generates an image for display picked up by the image pickup means based on the divided image signal whose image size has been adjusted by the image size adjusting means, and displays this on the liquid crystal display surface.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit generates a display image in which the divided image region is provided at least near the center of the screen. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the designation control means preferentially designates a divided image area provided near the center of the screen from the divided image areas displayed on the liquid crystal display surface. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the designation control means sequentially designates each divided image area displayed on the liquid crystal display surface in accordance with a pressing time of the changeover switch. Output a captured image as at least a field image signal, generate a display image composed of a plurality of divided image areas based on the output field image signal, and display it on a liquid crystal display surface.
From the plurality of divided image areas displayed on the liquid crystal display surface, specify a divided image area associated with each pressing time of a single changeover switch operated by the user,
The subject that is displayed in the designated divided image areas, and controls the focus,
For the divided image signal based on the captured subject, perform image size adjustment with interpolation processing,
An imaging method for generating a captured display image based on the divided image signal having the image size adjusted, and displaying the generated display image on the liquid crystal display surface. The imaging method according to claim 5 , wherein a display image in which the divided image region is provided at least near the center of the screen is generated.   The imaging method according to claim 6, wherein the divided image area provided near the center of the screen is preferentially designated from the divided image areas displayed on the liquid crystal display surface. The imaging method according to claim 7, wherein each divided image region displayed on the liquid crystal display surface is sequentially designated according to a pressing time of the changeover switch.

Images