JPH0686152A - Still image pickup method and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To satisfactorily pick up a still image with a frame as the unit with a simple constitution. CONSTITUTION:For example, a CCD for video camera which has the number of picture elements corresponding to the effective screen of one frame is used as an image pickup element 1. A lens system 2 and a mechanical shutter 3 are provided in the front of the image pickup element 1, and image light passing them is thrown to the image pickup element 1. The signal from this image pickup element 1 is supplied to a memory 5 through an A/D converter 4, and the signal from this memory 5 is supplied to a picture processing circuit 6, and the processed signal is supplied to a recording part 7. The signal from the image pickup element is supplied to a view finder 8 also. The signal from a timing generator 9 is supplied to not only the A/D converter 4, the recording part, and a view finder 8 but also the image pickup element through a CCD driver 10. The signal from a shutter button 11 is supplied to the timing generator 9, and the control signal from this generator 9 is supplied to the mechanical shutter 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a still image capturing method and apparatus for capturing a still image using an image sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are known methods and apparatuses for capturing a still image using an image sensor. In such a method and apparatus, a conventional consumer device generally captures and records a still image of one field.

[0003] In a normal device of this type, this is processed in field units. Therefore, for example, when trying to record a signal of one frame, a time difference of 1/60 seconds occurs between the two fields constituting one frame. Therefore, when extracting this as a still image of one frame, a normal still image cannot be obtained due to a change between fields.

On the other hand, it is conceivable to prepare a special image pickup device having a vertical register for one frame for picking up a still image, and to perform processing in frame units using a frame memory or the like. However, such a device has a complicated configuration and a complicated control process therefor. Particularly, a high-quality C for HDTV or the like is used.
It wasn't realized on CD.

Further, when the frame television signal is used as a basis and processing is performed in a unit synchronized with the frame television signal, the processing timing is every 1/30 seconds. Therefore, the timing of imaging is limited, and there is a possibility that a desired photo opportunity may be missed. This application is made in view of such a point.

[0006]

The problem to be solved is that if the processing can be performed on a frame-by-frame basis, the configuration becomes complicated and the control processing therefor also becomes complicated. Moreover, the timing of image capturing is limited, and there is a possibility that a desired photo opportunity may be missed.

[0007]

The first means according to the present invention has an image sensor 1 having a number of pixels corresponding to an effective screen of one frame and a mechanical shutter 3, and when a shutter button 11 is pressed. The electric charge accumulated in the image pickup device is reset, and then the mechanical shutter is opened for a predetermined period, and then the mechanical shutter is closed, and the image pickup device reads a frame during the period when the mechanical shutter is closed. The still image capturing method is characterized by the above.

The second means according to the present invention has an image pickup device 1 having a number of pixels corresponding to an effective screen of one frame and a mechanical shutter 3, detects a shutter button 11 and stores the shutter button 11 in the image pickup device. Means for resetting the electric charge (timing generator 9), and then the mechanical shutter is opened for a predetermined period, and then the mechanical shutter is closed (shutter control signal), and the mechanical shutter is closed. Means for frame-reading the image sensor (CCD
Driver 10) is provided.

A third means of the present invention is the still image pickup device according to the second means, characterized in that the image pickup device 1 is a CCD.

[0010]

According to this, by providing the mechanical shutter, it is possible to pick up a good still image in frame units with a simple structure.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image pickup device (CCD), which is a CCD for a video camera having a number of pixels corresponding to an effective screen of one frame.
A lens system 2 and a mechanical shutter 3 are provided in front of the image pickup device 1, and the image pickup device 1 is irradiated with image light through the shutter 3 and the lens system 2.

The signal from the image pickup device 1 is supplied to the memory 5 through the A / D converter 4. Furthermore, this memory 5
Is supplied to the image processing circuit 6, and the processed signal is supplied to the recording unit 7. A signal from the image sensor 1 is also supplied to the viewfinder 8.

Further, the signal from the timing generator 9 is A
It is supplied to the / D converter 4 to the recording unit 7 and the viewfinder 8 and also supplied to the image pickup device 1 through the CCD driver 10. Further, the signal from the shutter button 11 is supplied to the timing generator 9, and the control signal from the generator 9 is supplied to the mechanical shutter 3.

In this apparatus, a predetermined clock signal and a timing signal are supplied from the timing generator 9 to the A / D converter 4 to the recording section 7, and an arbitrary synchronizing signal is supplied to the viewfinder 8.

From the timing generator 9, an O / E signal (A in FIG. 2) which is inverted every field, a reset signal (B in FIG. 2) having the same timing as the vertical synchronizing signal, and S
A G1 signal (C in the figure) and an SG2 signal (D in the figure) are generated and supplied to the CCD driver 10, respectively.

When the shutter button 11 is further pressed, a shutter signal having a low electric potential is formed during a period corresponding to an arbitrary shutter time, as shown by E in FIG.
This shutter signal is supplied to the timing generator 9.

The timing generator 9 generates a reset signal, an SG1 signal, and an SG2 signal as shown in the figure in association with the fall of the shutter signal. Further, in association with the rising edge of the shutter signal, a shutter control signal for closing the shutter 3 is generated as shown by F in FIG. Further, as shown in the figure, the SG1 signal and the SG2 signal are generated while the shutter 3 is closed.

Here, as the image pickup element 1, for example, a CCD for a video camera having a number of pixels corresponding to an effective screen of one frame is constructed as schematically shown in FIG. In this figure, 21O and 22O are light receiving portions forming odd fields, and 21E and 22E are light receiving portions forming even fields.

The light receiving portion 21O is connected to the vertical register 24 through the switch 23O, and the light receiving portion 21E is connected to the vertical register 24 through the switch 23E. In addition, the light receiving unit 22O passes through the switch 25O and the vertical register 2
6, the light receiving portion 22E is connected to the vertical register 26 through the switch 25E.

Further, the vertical registers 24 and 26 are connected to the horizontal register 27, and the horizontal register 27 is connected to the output terminal 2
9 is connected. In addition, the light receiving portions 21O, 22O, 21E,
22E are respectively connected to the ground line through the reset switch 30.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned device, in the moving image mode, the signals of the light receiving portions 21O, 22O, 21E and 22E are 1
The SG1 signal and SG2 signal for each field are taken out to the vertical registers 24 and 26. These vertical registers 2
The signals 4 and 26 are supplied to the horizontal register 27. Then, the signal from the horizontal register 27 is taken out to the output terminal 29.

On the other hand, in the still image capturing mode, when the shutter button 11 is pressed, first the light receiving section 21 is pressed.
The accumulated charges of O, 22O, 21E and 22E are reset to the ground potential through the reset switch 30. afterwards,
New signal charges are accumulated during a period corresponding to an arbitrary shutter time, and then the mechanical shutter 3 is closed.

The SG1 signal and the SG2 signal are independently generated while the shutter 3 is closed.
As a result, the signals of the light receiving portions 21O and 22O are taken out to the vertical registers 24 and 26 by the SG1 signal, and taken out to the output terminal 29 through the horizontal register 27. Also SG2
The signals of the light receiving parts 21E and 22E are vertical registers 2 by signals.
4 and 26, and the output terminal 29 through the horizontal register 27.

That is, the signal charges newly accumulated in the period corresponding to the above-mentioned arbitrary shutter time are separated and taken out into the odd field and the even field, respectively. As a result, it is possible to take out a good still image of one frame without causing a time difference of 1/60 seconds.

In this way, according to the above-mentioned apparatus, the provision of the mechanical shutter 3 makes it possible to pick up a good still image in frame units with a simple structure.

According to the above device, the shutter button 1
A still image can be captured at the timing when 1 is pressed, and the timing of capturing is not limited to the processing timing or the like. Furthermore, a long shutter time of 1/30 second or more can be realized.

In the above apparatus, the timing generator 9 is formed as shown in FIG. 4, for example. That is, in the figure, a signal from the shutter button 11 (not shown) is supplied to the reset of the horizontal counter 42 and the vertical counter 43 through the reset circuit 41. Further, a predetermined clock signal is supplied to the horizontal counter 42 and the vertical counter 43.

The horizontal and vertical addresses counted by the horizontal counter 42 and the vertical counter 43 are supplied to the signal generator 44. Further, the clock signal and the reset signal from the reset circuit 41 are supplied to the signal generator 44, and the clock signal and the timing signal, the synchronization signal, the O / E signal,
A reset signal, SG1 signal, SG2 signal, etc. are generated.

[0029]

According to the present invention, by providing a mechanical shutter, it becomes possible to pick up a good still image in frame units with a simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a still image capturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart diagram for the explanation.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining a CCD image pickup device applied to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 image sensor (CCD) 2 lens system 3 mechanical shutter 4 A / D converter 5 memory 6 image processing circuit 7 recording unit 8 viewfinder 9 timing generator 10 CCD driver 11 shutter button

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vertical transfer register has an image sensor having a number of pixels corresponding to an effective screen for one frame and a mechanical shutter, and a mechanical shutter. When the shutter button is pressed, the image sensor is switched to the image sensor. The accumulated electric charge is reset, and then the mechanical shutter is opened for a predetermined period, and then the mechanical shutter is closed, so that the image pickup device performs frame reading during the period when the mechanical shutter is closed. A still image capturing method characterized by the above. 2. A vertical transfer register having an image pickup device having a number of pixels corresponding to an effective screen of one frame and having only one field, and a mechanical shutter. Means for resetting the accumulated electric charge, thereafter opening the mechanical shutter for a predetermined period, further closing the mechanical shutter thereafter, and means for frame-reading the image pickup device during the period when the mechanical shutter is closed And a still image pickup device. 3. The still image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein the image pickup device is a CCD.