JPH04150690A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select a color reproduction and a brightness level optionally, and to execute the color reproduction by the favorite skin color of a user, for example when executing the image pickup of a person by setting a correction operation in a color reproduction correcting circuit by the selection of a color reproduction selecting mechanism. CONSTITUTION:An image pickup lens 1, a diaphragm 2, an imaging device 3, a color separation circuit 4, amplifiers 5 and 6, a white balance(WB) sensor 7, a color reproduction correcting circuit 8 and a process circuit 9 are provided, and moreover a microcomputer 10 controlling the color reproduction correcting circuit 8 and a color reproduction selecting mechanism 11 applying a signal to the microcomputer are provided. And by properly selecting the signal setting the correction operation in the color reproduction correcting circuit 8 by the color reproduction selecting mechanism 11, a color reproduction correction in the color reproduction correcting circuit 8 is executed. Thus, it is possible to desirably execute the image pickup of people such as, for example, white people, black people, the yellow race, suntanned people and fair complexioned people respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a color reproduction correction technique in an imaging device such as a color video camera.

[Conventional technology] For example, when photographing people with conventional color video cameras, no consideration has been given to properly reproducing differences in race (white, black, etc.) or differences in skin color due to sunburn or makeup. Ta. However, as the reproducibility of video cameras improves, there is a need to reproduce skin tones that are more pleasing to Caucasians, or even whiter and more beautiful skin tones.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, for example, when attempting to make the skin red, it was not possible to change the tone of only the skin-colored portion, and the entire screen became red.

The present invention addresses such problems and allows the photographer to arbitrarily change the color reproduction according to the photographic subject according to the photographer's preference. To provide an imaging device capable of arbitrarily selecting skin color reproduction according to the expressive intention of a photographer, such as a so-called beauty mode or a tanning mode, which preferably reproduces differences in skin color due to sunburn or makeup. With the goal.

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 provides a color reproduction correction device that arbitrarily corrects and changes color reproduction from an input video signal, and the color reproduction correction device. This imaging device includes a color reproduction selection mechanism that selects a signal for setting a correction operation.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 provides that, in the above, the color reproduction correction device includes a look-up table for converting input digital primary color signal contents and a color reproduction selection signal from a color reproduction selection mechanism. This has means for rewriting the contents of the lookup table.

[Function] According to the configuration described in claim 1, the color reproduction correction device performs color reproduction correction by appropriately selecting the signal for setting the correction operation in the color reproduction correction device by the color reproduction selection mechanism. For example, we can preferably image white people, black people, yellow people, tanned people, and fair-skinned people.

Further, according to the configuration of claim 2, color reproduction can be easily corrected by rewriting the contents of the lookup table.

Second Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This device consists of an imaging lens 1, an aperture 2, an imaging device 3 consisting of a CCD, etc., a color separation circuit 4 that separates an input video signal into R, G, and B signals, amplifiers 5 and 6 inserted into the signal line, and external light. A white balance (WB) sensor 7 that detects the color temperature of the camera and supplies a control signal to the amplifier 56, a color reproduction correction circuit 8 that corrects the color signal and changes color reproduction, and a process circuit 89. It is equipped with a microcomputer 10 for control and a color reproduction selection mechanism 11 for supplying signals to the microcomputer 10.

In this device, light transmitted through a lens 1 and an aperture 2 forms an image on an image sensor 3. A color filter is attached to each pixel of the image sensor 3, and either a color signal or a multiplexed signal can be obtained as the element output. This signal is color separated by color separation circuit 4,
Obtain R, G, and B signals. The WB sensor 7 outputs B/G and R/G signals depending on the color temperature. The R and B signals are W
Gain control is performed by an amplifier 5.6 using B/G and R/G from the B sensor 7, and R, G, and B are set to the same signal level when capturing a white image.

Each signal is input to a color reproduction correction circuit 8, and in the same circuit 8, color reproduction is corrected to obtain a desired skin color under control from a microcomputer 10 as described below. Selection of correction data is performed by a color reproduction selection mechanism 11. In response to the selected selection signal, the microcomputer 10 transfers the correction data stored in its internal memory to the color reproduction correction circuit 8.
The R', G', and B' signals after zero-color reproduction correction, which corrects color reproduction based on the correction data, are processed by a process circuit 9 to become video signals.

FIG. 2 shows a specific example of the color reproduction correction cycle F#18.

In the same circuit 8, the R, G, and B input signals are added and W
It becomes a signal. The W, R, and B signals are divided by an A/D conversion conversion rule calculator to become R/W and B/W chromaticity signals. The lookup table (LUT) is composed of RAM and is a digital value R/W.

B/W is connected to the address line. R/W,B
The RAM data at the address specified by /W is read and becomes (R/W)', (B/W)'. The data in the RAM is data written in advance via the microcomputer 10, and can be converted into chromaticity data R/W and B/W.

For example, if you want to make your skin color a little red, you can set R/W of chromaticity point data (R/W, B/W>) that is close to your skin color to a slightly larger value.

<R/W)', <B/W)' obtained in this way
The signal is multiplied by the W signal and after inverse transformation, G'R', B'
It becomes a signal. In this way, it is possible to set the color reproduction of the skin color portion to a desired setting without impairing the reproduction of primary colors or white colors.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show various examples of the color reproduction selection mechanism 11 for obtaining a user's favorite skin color. In FIG. 3, the resistor R is selected by the selector switch SWI, and skin color reproduction can be selected to suit the tastes of whites, blacks, and yellow people.

In this example, the signal is transmitted to the microcomputer 10 in three values of "H", "M" and "HI" levels. The microcomputer 10 determines the input level using a built-in A/D converter. It is also easy to expand to more modes using this method.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which skin color reproduction is selected using the push button switch SW2. The currently selected mode is one of the output ports PO to P2 of the microcomputer 10.
When the button is turned on, one of LEDs 1 to 3 lights up and is displayed. Each time the push button switch SW2 is pressed, the selection is made in the following order: White → Black → Yellow → White.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which the reproduction of the skin color can be adjusted. Depending on the position of the variable resistor VR, the skin color can be set to look more tanned than the actual skin color, or conversely, the skin color can be set to be fairer. The set signal is a voltage and is sent to the microcomputer 1.
0, and the input level is determined by the built-in A/D converter. Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, the correction operation in the color reproduction correction device can be set by selecting the color reproduction selection mechanism, and the color reproduction, brightness level, etc. can be arbitrarily set. For example, when capturing an image of a person, it is possible to reproduce colors with the user's preferred skin color.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, color reproduction correction can be easily and arbitrarily selected by simply rewriting the contents of the lookup table with a simple configuration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a specific example of a color reproduction correction device in the same device, and FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are color FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing various examples of reproduction selection mechanisms. 3... Image sensor, 4... Color separation circuit, 8... Color reproduction correction circuit, 10... Microcomputer, 11.
...Color reproduction selection mechanism.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A color reproduction correction device that arbitrarily corrects and changes the color reproduction from an input video signal, and a color reproduction selection mechanism that selects a signal for setting the correction operation in the color reproduction correction device. An imaging device that uses (2) The color reproduction correction device includes a lookup table for converting the input digital primary color signal contents, and a means for rewriting the contents of the lookup table by inputting the color reproduction selection signal from the color reproduction selection mechanism. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising: