JP5238365B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, a shooting image data relating to the data stored in an imaging device that be output to the outside in the memory after temporarily stored in the memory.

Since the CMOS type solid-state imaging device requires only a low operating voltage, it has been widely used in recent years and has been installed in many digital cameras, camera-equipped mobile phones and the like.

  When driving a CMOS type solid-state imaging device, a rolling shutter system in which a shutter is sequentially released for each scanning line is often used. However, this rolling shutter system moves because the exposure timing is different between the upper part and the lower part of the screen. Image distortion called rolling distortion occurs with respect to the subject.

  In recent years, solid-state imaging devices have been increased in number of pixels, and it has become common to mount millions of pixels or more. However, as the number of pixels from which captured image data is read increases, There is a problem that the difference from the timing of reading from the lower part becomes large and the image distortion becomes large.

  Therefore, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1 below, a memory for temporarily storing captured image data is formed on a semiconductor substrate for each pixel, and image data detected by each pixel is temporarily stored in this memory, and the image is captured from the memory. By reading out the image and passing the captured image data to the subsequent image processing apparatus side, a complete simultaneous shutter with no time shift between the upper and lower portions of the screen is realized.

JP 2006-129298 A

  When the captured image data of the solid-state image sensor is temporarily stored in the memory provided on the image sensor module side before being output to the image processing device side, the high-speed shutter is released even if the number of pixels of the solid-state image sensor increases. It is possible. This is the same even if the memory is provided on the same semiconductor substrate as the solid-state image sensor as described in Patent Document 1, or a memory having a data capacity for one screen is provided outside the image sensor. is there.

  However, in the case of continuous shooting, the current shooting cannot be performed unless the image data obtained in the previous shooting is transferred from the memory to the image processing apparatus, and the continuous shooting performance deteriorates. .

  In other words, when using a solid-state imaging device with a large number of pixels and a large amount of transfer data, the transfer speed of the data transfer path from the memory to the image processing apparatus becomes a bottleneck, and high-speed continuous shooting cannot be performed. There is.

  In the above description, continuous shooting has been described as an example. However, it is impossible to increase the frame rate at the time of moving image shooting, or it becomes impossible to increase the frame rate of a through image for acquiring AF data and AE data. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging element module, an imaging data output method, and an imaging apparatus that enable high-speed continuous shooting and imaging of moving image data at a high frame rate even when the number of pixels of the imaging element is large. is there.

Imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an imaging device module, image processing for the JPEG image data subjected to image processing on the captured image data of the RAW data output from the image sensor module disposed on the outer portion of the image sensor module An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup apparatus main body comprising: a MOS type image pickup element that picks up a subject image; and a picked-up image data picked up by the image pickup element as a RAW data as a digital signal in comprising a memory for storing, and a compression means for force out by compressing the captured image data of the RAW data read out from the memory, the imaging apparatus main body, the compressed output from the imaging device module Data input means for directly receiving and expanding the captured image data, and the data input means expanded by the data input means Characterized by comprising said image processing means for directly receiving the image processing of the image image data, and a frame memory connected via a bus to said data input means and said image processing means. With this configuration, the continuous shooting performance is improved and the moving image frame rate can be maintained high.

The image pickup apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the picked-up image data read from the image pickup device is compressed by the compression means simultaneously with the reading and output to the data input means . With this configuration, the continuous shooting performance is improved and the moving image frame rate can be maintained high.

The image pickup apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the compression is reversible compression. With this configuration, it is possible to maintain high continuous shooting performance and the like and to avoid image quality deterioration.

The image pickup apparatus according to the present invention compresses the picked-up image data obtained from the image pickup device by the compression means when the mechanical shutter disposed in front of the image pickup device is “closed”, and outputs the compressed image data to the data input means . It is characterized by that. With this configuration, the black level can be detected with a small data transfer amount.

The imaging apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the captured image data is compressed for each color of a color filter stacked on each pixel of the imaging element. With this configuration, continuous shooting performance and the like can be improved and the amount of transferred data can be further reduced.

The imaging apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the compression is performed by irreversible compression based on an integrated value of the captured image data for each color of a color filter stacked on each pixel of the imaging element. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of transfer data and maintain high continuous shooting performance and the like, and to avoid a significant deterioration in image quality.

Imaging apparatus of the present invention, an integration means for outputting to said image pickup device the bodies integrated to the integrated value the captured image data for each color of the color filters are laminated to each pixel through the data input means of the imaging device The image pickup device module is provided, and the image pickup apparatus main body is connected to the bus with control means for performing automatic exposure control based on the integrated value output from the image pickup device module . With this configuration, the amount of transfer data can be reduced and the AE processing of the camera can be speeded up.

Imaging apparatus of the present invention, a differential filter that outputs a fine fraction value to calculate the differential value data between adjacent pixels of the captured image data to the imaging apparatus Body through said data input means the image sensor module comprising, The image pickup apparatus main body is connected to the bus with a control unit that performs automatic focus control based on the differential value output from the image pickup device module . With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of transfer data and increase the speed of AF processing.

The imaging apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that difference data between the previous captured image data and the current captured image data is the compressed data. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of transferred data and improve continuous shooting performance and the like.

The image pickup apparatus of the present invention is a data obtained by compressing a difference between the picked-up image data obtained by picking up a subject and the picked-up image data obtained when the mechanical shutter disposed in the previous stage of the image pickup device is “closed”. and outputs to the imaging device the body through said data input means as. With this configuration, continuous shooting performance and the like can be improved, and captured image data in which the black level is accurately subtracted can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, since the data amount of data output from the image sensor module is reduced and the data output time is shortened, the readout time from the image sensor is not delayed due to the delay in the data output time. Even when an image sensor with 1 million pixels or more is mounted, the continuous shooting performance is high and the frame rate of moving image shooting can be maintained high.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the illustrated example, a digital still camera. The digital still camera 1 includes a system control unit (CPU) 2 that performs overall control of the entire camera, an operation unit (including a shutter button and an operation switch) 3 that receives operation input from a user, and a digital signal processing unit (DSP). 4, a main memory (frame memory) 5, a memory card IF (interface) unit 6 for connecting an external storage medium, an image display unit 7 such as a liquid crystal provided on the back of the camera, etc., and a communication IF unit 8 , A driver 9, a data input IF unit 10 having a data decompression function (data decompression function), and a main bus 11 interconnecting them.

  The digital still camera 1 is further provided with an image sensor module 12 and an optical system 13 including a photographic lens and a mechanical shutter provided in front of the CMOS image sensor in the image sensor module 12. The mechanical shutter is driven by the lens driving unit and the shutter driving unit of the driver 9 based on an instruction from the CPU 2. The image sensor module 12 is also driven by the image sensor drive section of the driver 9.

  FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of the image sensor module 12 shown in FIG. The image sensor module 12 includes a logic control and drive circuit 21 driven by an instruction signal from the image sensor drive section of the driver 9 and a pixel array section 22 in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional array on a semiconductor substrate. And an analog / digital (A / D) converter 23 that converts an analog image signal read from the pixel array unit 22 into a digital signal.

  A CMOS transistor is formed as a signal readout circuit in each pixel of the pixel array unit 22, and a captured image signal read from the signal readout circuit is output to the A / D conversion unit 23. The signal readout circuit is not limited to a CMOS, and may be a MOS transistor configuration such as an NMOS.

  The image sensor module 12 is further connected to an in-module memory 25 having a capacity for temporarily storing image data for one screen and an output unit of the A / D conversion unit 23 to write / read the memory 25. A memory controller 26 that controls and cooperates with the drive circuit 21; a compression unit 27 that compresses image data output from the memory controller 26; and a data IF unit 28 that outputs the compressed image data to the outside. .

In the digital still camera 1 of this configuration, continuous shooting function is selected by the operating unit 3, the shutter button is pressed, the optical object in the pixel array unit 22 of the image sensor module 12 through the optical system 13 of FIG. 1 An image is formed and exposure begins.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, the pixel array unit 22 is driven by a rolling shutter system, and the signal readout circuit corresponding to each pixel of the pixel array unit 22 responds to the amount of incident light from the subject. The captured image data is output to the A / D converter 23 in the order of scanning lines from the top to the bottom of the screen.

  The A / D converter 23 converts the captured image data in the scanning line order output from the pixel array unit 22 into digital data and passes it to the memory controller 26, and the memory controller 26 receives the captured image data (digital data). The raw data is temporarily stored in the in-module memory 25.

  The captured image data temporarily stored in the memory 25 is immediately read out in order of scanning lines from the image data at the top of the screen by the memory controller 26 and is output to the camera body side. The output captured image data (RAW data) is compressed by the compression unit 27, and the compressed captured image data is output from the data IF unit 28 to the data input IF unit 10 shown in FIG.

  The data input IF unit 10 decompresses or expands the received compressed captured image data and passes it to the digital signal processing unit 4 or stores it in the main memory (frame memory) 5 through the main bus 11.

  The digital signal processing unit 4 performs image processing on the received captured image data, records it as JPEG image data on a memory card, or displays the through image data on the image display unit 7.

  As described above, the image sensor module 12 mounted on the digital still camera 1 of the present embodiment compresses and transfers captured image data to be transferred to the outside, that is, the camera body side, so that the amount of transfer data is reduced.

  FIG. 3A shows a state when captured image data is transferred to the camera body without being compressed. If the captured image data is not compressed, the amount of data increases, so it takes time to transfer and it takes time to empty the in-module memory 25.

  That is, the standby time until the next imaging is lengthened. The waiting time becomes longer as the number of pixels in the pixel array unit 22 increases, and the amount of transfer data increases and the continuous shooting function deteriorates.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the amount of transfer data is reduced by data compression, the time required for transfer is shortened as shown in FIG. Therefore, the output path of the captured image data of the image sensor module 12 does not become a bottleneck, and high-speed continuous shooting can be performed one after another. Further, since the amount of transfer data is reduced, this contributes to reduction of power consumption (heat generation) of the data IF unit 28.

  As the number of pixels of the pixel array unit 22 mounted on the image sensor module 12 increases, the amount of data increases accordingly. In that case, if the compression rate in the compression unit 27 is increased in accordance with the number of pixels, the captured image data The output path never becomes a bottleneck.

  The image compression may be irreversible compression, but is preferably lossless compression in order to maintain the image quality.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a timing chart according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The hardware configuration is the same as in FIGS.

  FIG. 4A is a timing chart similar to that in FIG. 3A, and shows that it takes time to transfer data from the in-module memory 25 to the outside when data compression is not used.

  In the timing chart shown in FIG. 4A, after the exposure is performed by the rolling shutter method and the signal is read out, that is, after the captured image data for one screen is stored in the in-module memory 25, the memory 25 The captured image data is output to the camera body side.

  However, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the captured image data is read from the pixel array unit 22 and stored in the memory 25, the captured image data from the memory 25 is transferred to the camera body side. Thus, it is possible to reduce the time required for the end of transfer. This image data output control can also improve the continuous shooting performance. Of course, in this embodiment, if the data compression by the compression unit 27 is also used, the data output time can be further shortened. It goes without saying that it can be done.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an imaging procedure according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The hardware configuration is the same as in FIGS. In the present embodiment, the subject image is photographed in the first photographing, and the black level detection data is obtained by photographing with the mechanical shutter closed in the next successive photographing. Black level shooting is called “dark shooting”.

  First, in step S <b> 1, a subject image is captured, and captured image data is read from the signal readout circuit of the pixel array unit 22. The captured image data is stored in the in-module memory 25, compressed, and output to the camera body side. Note that data compression in this case is not essential, and an exposure period for dark photography is provided next, so data transfer may be performed during this exposure period.

  In the next step S2, the mechanical shutter is closed, and in step S3, dark photographing and reading are performed. The black level data obtained by the dark photographing is stored in the in-module memory 25, compressed by the compression unit 27, and transferred to the camera body side (step S4).

  FIG. 6 is an operation timing chart in the present embodiment. The subject image is taken by the rolling shutter method, the signal is read from the scanning line after the exposure period, the data is stored in the in-module memory 25, the data is read from the memory 25, and the data is compressed. Perform the transfer.

  After the exposure of one screen of the subject image is completed and the signal reading time has elapsed, the mechanical shutter is closed, and exposure for dark photography is started by the rolling shutter method.

  The black level data obtained by this dark exposure is stored in the in-module memory 25, is compressed and transferred to the camera body side. Data obtained by dark imaging may be lossless compression or bit reduction. Since dark data has a high compression rate, the transfer time is short.

  According to this embodiment, even when black level data is shot continuously after the main shooting, the total shooting time can be shortened.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a timing chart of data output according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The hardware configuration is the same as in FIGS. The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment until a subject image is captured by the rolling shutter method and the captured image data is stored in the in-module memory 25.

  The difference is that in the first embodiment, the captured image data is read out in the order of the scanning lines stored in the memory 25, compressed by the compression unit 27, and transferred to the camera body side. First, only the captured image data read from the pixel equipped with the blue (B) color filter is read out from the memory 25 storing the captured image data for the corresponding amount, and is compressed by the compression unit 27 and transferred to the camera body side. Next, only the captured image data read from the pixel mounted with the green (G) color filter is read out, compressed by the compression unit 27 and transferred to the camera body side, and finally the red (R) Only the captured image data read from the pixels equipped with the color filter is read, compressed by the compression unit 27, and transferred to the camera body side. Of course, the color order of the data to be read is not limited to the order of B → G → R, but is arbitrary.

  In this way, since only the captured image data of the same color are collectively read and compressed, data with high correlation is compressed, and the compression rate is increased and the data transfer time can be shortened.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a data output procedure according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Although the hardware configuration is the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the image sensor module 12 is under the control of the CPU 2, and the compression unit 27 is controlled by the CPU 2.

  First, photographing is performed in step S11. By this shooting, 16-bit captured image data (RAW data) is stored in the in-module memory 25.

  In next step S <b> 12, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the user has set the RAW data recording mode through the operation unit 3. When the RAW data recording mode is set, the process proceeds from step S12 to step S13, and the 16-bit captured image data stored in the memory 25 is output, that is, transferred to the camera body side. That is, the compression unit 27 compresses 16-bit captured image data and transfers it to the camera body side.

  When the RAW data recording mode is not set, the process proceeds from step S12 to step S14, and this time, the integrated range (dynamic range) of the captured image data is predetermined from the AE data (exposure data) obtained from the through image data. Judge whether it is wider than the value.

  If the dynamic range is wider than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S15, and the upper 12 bits of the 16-bit captured image data are output. That is, the compression unit 27 transfers only the upper 12 bits of the 16-bit data received from the memory controller 26 to the camera body side.

  When the dynamic range is narrower than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S16, and the lower 12 bits of the 16-bit captured image data are output. That is, the compression unit 27 transfers only the lower 12 bits of the 16-bit data received from the memory controller 26 to the camera body side.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when not in the RAW data recording mode, the compression unit 27 performs lossy compression by reducing the bit depth from 16 bits to 12 bits, thereby reducing the transfer time. . However, since data selection is performed according to the dynamic range width, image quality is not greatly affected even by lossy compression.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a functional configuration diagram of an image sensor module according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The functional configuration of the digital still camera is the same as in FIG.

  Compared with the embodiment of FIG. 2, the imaging element module 30 according to the present embodiment omits the compression unit 27, and instead, the captured image output from the A / D conversion unit 23 in the previous stage of the memory controller 26. The difference is that an integration unit 31 for receiving the data in parallel with the memory controller 26 and calculating the integration data is provided, and further, an area 25y for storing this integration data is provided in the in-module memory 25.

  The accumulator 31 receives the captured image data output from the A / D converter 23, divides one screen into, for example, 8 × 8 = 64 partial areas, and R (red) and G (green) for each partial area. ), B (blue) of the captured image data (AE data) is obtained, and each integrated value is stored in the integrated value area 25y for each partial region.

  The image sensor module 30 mounted on the digital still camera 1 always outputs subject image data as through image data in a moving image state while the power is turned on and the shooting mode is set. Is transferring to the side.

  Conventionally, the digital signal processing unit 4 on the camera body side receives through image data and integrates the through image data to acquire AE data. In this embodiment, the integration unit provided on the image sensor module 30 side. The AE data is calculated at 31, stored in the specific area 25 y of the in-module memory 25, and reduced by thinning the captured image data stored in the main body of the in-module memory 25 to the number of pixels of the image display unit 7. If the image data is transferred to the camera body side, it is possible to increase the speed of the AE process and reduce the amount of transfer data.

  2 is provided, and the captured image data for one screen stored in the memory 25 is compressed by the compression unit 27 and transferred to the camera body side as in the embodiment shown in FIG. May be.

(Seventh embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of an image sensor module according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The functions on the digital still camera main body side are the same as those in FIG.

  The image sensor module 32 of the present embodiment is different from the image sensor module 12 of FIG. 2 only in that a filter unit 33 is provided instead of the compression unit 12.

  The filter unit 33 performs differential filter processing (processing for obtaining a difference change amount between captured image data of adjacent pixels) on the captured image data read from the memory 25 and transferred to the camera body side at the subsequent stage during AF (automatic focus processing) ) And transfer the data after differential filter processing to the camera body. The camera body side performs AF operation using the data after the differential filter processing.

  Since the amount of data after the differential filter processing is reduced, the time required for transfer can be shortened, and the AF processing can be speeded up.

  In this embodiment, similarly to the sixth embodiment, the reduced image data is transferred to the camera body side, or the captured image data compressed by the compression unit 27 is transferred to the camera body side. Anyway.

(Eighth embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a functional configuration diagram of an image sensor module according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. The functions on the digital still camera main body side are the same as those in FIG.

  The image pickup device module 35 according to the present embodiment has the same basic configuration as that of the embodiment of FIG. 2 except that a calculation unit 36 is provided at the position of the memory controller 26 of FIG. The only difference is that data is exchanged only with 36, the memory 25A and 25B for two screens are provided under the memory controller 26, and the output of the calculation unit 36 is connected to the data IF unit 28. In the present embodiment, the calculation unit 36 functions as the compression unit 27.

  The image sensor module 35 of the present embodiment stores captured image data captured last time in one of the two memory modules 25A and 25B during continuous shooting or moving image shooting (including through images). The captured image data captured this time is stored in the other memory, and the calculation unit 36 calculates and outputs difference data between the previous captured image data and the current captured image data.

  At the time of continuous shooting or moving image shooting, the previous captured image data and the current captured image data are almost the same subject image data, and there is a high probability that the image data has a high correlation. It becomes possible.

  FIG. 12 is an operation timing chart according to the eighth embodiment. The captured image data obtained in the exposure period (a) at the previous (first) imaging is read from the pixel array unit 22 and stored in, for example, the memory 25A. This captured image data is externally (camera body side). ).

  Next, the captured image data obtained in the exposure period (b) at the time of the current photographing is read from the pixel array unit 22 and stored in the memory 25B, and this time the difference data is transferred (f) to the outside. .

  When the captured image data obtained in the exposure period (c) at the next shooting is read from the pixel array unit 22, this time it is stored in the memory 25A, and the difference data from the stored data in the memory 25B is transferred to the outside (G). Is done.

  In this way, by transferring the difference data, the amount of transfer data can be reduced, and even when a solid-state imaging device having millions of pixels or more is used, the continuous shooting speed can be improved, The frame rate of the video can be improved.

(Ninth embodiment)
FIG. 13 is an operation timing chart showing a data output method in the image sensor module according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the subject image is captured in the first exposure period, the captured image data is transferred to the camera body side, the dark image is captured in the continuous second exposure period, and the captured data is compressed. And transferred to the camera body.

  In contrast, in the present embodiment, the subject image is captured in the first exposure period, the captured image data is stored in the in-module memory 25, the mechanical shutter is closed, and dark imaging is performed in the continuous second exposure period. Then, the difference between the obtained dark image data and the data in the memory 25 is calculated and transferred to the camera body side.

  As a result, the subject captured image data obtained by accurately subtracting the black level can be transferred to subsequent processing, and the total transfer data can be halved.

(Tenth embodiment)
FIG. 14 is a functional configuration diagram of an image sensor module according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration on the digital still camera body side is the same as in FIG.

  The image sensor module 38 of this embodiment is different only in that the compression unit 27 in the embodiment shown in FIG.

  That is, in the imaging element module 38 of the present embodiment, the digital captured image data (RAW data) output from the A / D conversion unit 23 is compressed by the compression unit 27 and then stored in the in-module memory 25. The amount of data transferred to subsequent processing can be reduced, and the capacity of the in-module memory 25 can be reduced.

  As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, since the data to be transferred to the subsequent process is compressed and transferred, the transfer data amount can be reduced, that is, the transfer time can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the delay in the pre-processing (reading of image data from the pixel array, that is, the image sensor) due to the transfer delay. As a result, even when an image sensor having millions of pixels or more is mounted, high-speed continuous shooting is possible, and the moving image frame rate can be kept high.

  In the imaging processing module according to the present invention, the amount of data transferred to subsequent processing is reduced, so that there is no delay in reading data from the imaging device. For this reason, it becomes possible to mount a solid-state image sensor with an increased number of pixels in an image sensor module, which is useful when applied to a digital camera, a camera-equipped mobile phone, or the like.

1 is a functional configuration diagram of a digital still camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of the image pick-up element module shown in FIG. It is a conventional operation timing chart (a) and an operation timing chart (b) of the data output method according to the first embodiment. It is an operation | movement timing chart which shows the data output method which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the data output method which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is an operation timing chart showing a data output method of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. It is an operation | movement timing chart which shows the data output method which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the data output method which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the image pick-up element module which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the image pick-up element module which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the image pick-up element module which concerns on the 8th Embodiment of this invention. 12 is an operation timing chart in the image sensor module shown in FIG. 11. It is an operation | movement timing chart which shows the data output method which concerns on the 9th Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the image pick-up element module which concerns on the 10th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging device 2 System control part (CPU)
4 Digital signal processor (DSP)
7 Image display section 10 Data input IF section (with decompression function)
12, 30, 32, 35, 38 Image sensor module 22 Pixel array unit 25, 25A, 25B In-module memory 26 Memory controller 27 Compression unit 31 Integration unit 33 Differential filter unit 36 Calculation unit

Claims (10)

An imaging element module, and an imaging device body including an image processing means for JPEG image data subjected to image processing on the captured image data of the RAW data provided on the outer portion is output from the image sensor module of the image sensor module An imaging device comprising :
The image sensor module includes a MOS type image sensor that captures a subject image, a memory that stores captured image data captured by the image sensor as a RAW data as a digital signal, and a RAW data read from the memory. and a compression means for force out by compressing the captured image data,
The imaging apparatus main body directly receives and decompresses the compressed captured image data output from the image sensor module, and directly receives and decompresses the captured image data decompressed by the data input means. An image pickup apparatus comprising: the image processing means; a frame memory connected to the data input means and the image processing means via a bus . 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the captured image data read from the imaging element is compressed by the compression unit simultaneously with the reading and output to the data input unit .   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compression is lossless compression. The image pickup image data obtained from the image pickup device is compressed by the compression means and output to the data input means when a mechanical shutter disposed in front of the image pickup device is “closed”. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compression of the captured image data is performed for each color of a color filter stacked on each pixel of the imaging element.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compression is performed by irreversible compression based on an integrated value of the captured image data for each color of a color filter stacked on each pixel of the imaging element. . Wherein the integrating the captured image data the imaging device module integrating means for outputting the integrated value to the imaging device the body through said data input means provided for each color of the color filters are laminated to each pixel of the image sensor, 7. The control unit for performing automatic exposure control based on the integrated value output from the imaging element module is connected to the bus in the imaging apparatus main body. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1. Wherein with said image sensor module a differential filter that outputs to the imaging device the body of the calculated fine fraction value differential value data between adjacent pixels through the data input means of the captured image data, the image pickup apparatus main body, 8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control means for performing automatic focus control based on the differential value output from the image pickup element module is connected to the bus .   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein difference data between the previous captured image data and the current captured image data is the compressed data. The difference between the captured image data obtained by capturing an image of the subject and the captured image data obtained when the mechanical shutter disposed in front of the image sensor is “closed” through the data input means as the compressed data. the imaging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the output to the image pickup apparatus the body.

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