JPH0775001A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a video camera capable of obtaining the images of more natural movement for a moving object while conducting hand shake correction corresponding to the movement of the case body of the camera or the like. CONSTITUTION:The optical signals of the object are converted into video signals by a photographing lens 1, an image pickup element 2 and a video signal processing means 3. A correction amount upper limit value and correction ratio setting means 8 sets a correction amount upper limit value and a correction ratio based on an image shaking amount obtained by an external vibration detection means 6 and an image shaking amount calculation means 7, a zooming magnification from a zooming magnification detection means 10 and a switch manipulated variable from a switch manipulated variable detection means 11. A correction signal preparation means 4 prepares correction signals and outputs corrected video signals from a corrected image output means 5. The correction amount upper limit value and the correction ratio at the time are superimposed on the corrected video signals and displayed on the lower side of a screen for instance by a correction amount upper limit value and correction ratio display means 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a VTR integrated camera.
The present invention relates to an image pickup device used for (so-called video camera) and the like, and more particularly to a device for effectively preventing camera shake of a video camera and obtaining an image in which a subject moves naturally.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an applied device of an image pickup device, there is a video camera, for example. In recent years, the video camera market has become smaller and lighter year by year due to fierce weight competition.
At the same time, there is an increasing need for higher image quality. On the other hand,
Conventionally, the zoom magnification was about 6 times, but from 8 times to 12
Optically magnified up to about twice, some models have come out that can shoot subjects in various sizes. Furthermore, as digital technology has been applied, information processing in the image memory has enabled 16
There are also commercially available video cameras capable of electronically increasing the zoom magnification from 2 to 64 times.

When a video camera equipped with such a high-magnification optical zoom means and / or electronic zoom means is used for hand-held shooting, the shake of a picked-up image caused by the shake of the video camera, that is, hand shake becomes a problem. come.
For example, if the shake of the video camera is 1 mm and the image shake is 1 when the zoom magnification is 1 ×, the shake is 12 when the zoom magnification is 12 ×, so that the image is very unsightly. Therefore, there has been proposed a video camera equipped with a camera shake correction function for correcting the shake of a captured image by a mechanical method, an electronic method, or the like.

As a conventional camera shake correction device, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 293872, the gyroscope is controlled so as to be stationary on the inertial space in the rotational movement,
There is a method of correcting the camera shake by giving a rotation necessary for camera shake correction to a control mirror. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-174076, a motion vector of a captured image is calculated based on signals from a plurality of acceleration sensors and stored in a memory, an address on the memory is changed, and camera shake is corrected. There is a method of correction. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10780/1992, a method of controlling a prism and correcting camera shake based on information of fluctuations according to a temporal change of a motion vector detected from an image signal by image signal processing There is.

[0005]

In the above-described conventional camera shake correction method, the correction ratio between the shake amount of the captured image caused by the shake of the camera at the time of shooting and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction and the image correction amount are set. The upper limit is fixed, and the amount of image shake is corrected to 1: 1. Therefore, when correcting a stationary subject, the image shake is eliminated, and the image quality is not deteriorated due to camera shake.

However, when the photographer performs an operation of moving the camera left and right so as to follow the subject, that is, a pan operation and an operation of moving the camera up and down, that is, a tilt operation, the camera moves due to the pan operation and the tilt operation and the camera shakes due to camera shake. Since it is not possible to distinguish between, the moving subject will be corrected up to the upper limit of the image correction amount, the movement will appear to stop, the position will suddenly change when it exceeds the upper limit of the correction, and it will be corrected again at that place. The result is an unnatural image that appears to stop moving.

Further, in order to prioritize the naturalness of the image at the time of the pan operation and the tilt operation, the correction ratio and the upper limit value of the image correction amount at the time of the shake correction are fixed to a low value contrary to the above, the image pickup apparatus is used. Since it is not possible to change the setting value in the middle, there is a drawback that sufficient correction cannot be performed when the image shake is amplified by the magnification corresponding to the camera shake, such as at high magnification. .

An object of the present invention is to perform camera shake correction in accordance with the movement of the housing, etc., while changing the camera shake correction condition at the time of shooting so that an image of more natural movement can be obtained for a moving subject. An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus including a means for doing so.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus provided with a means capable of performing camera shake correction from a stage where an arbitrary set value is exceeded.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus in which a camera shake correction condition is displayed in a photographed image confirmation monitor so that the photographer can photograph while confirming and changing the correction condition according to the situation. .

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image pickup device for converting an optical image of a photographing lens into an electric signal, and means for detecting a shake of the casing of the image pickup device at the time of photographing. An image pickup apparatus including means for correcting the shake of a captured image caused by the shake of the housing, the correction ratio between the shake amount of the shot image caused by the shake of the housing and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction, and The present invention proposes an image pickup apparatus including means for changing at least one of the upper limit values of image correction amounts at the time of shooting.

The means for changing at least one of the correction ratio between the amount of shake of the captured image caused by the shake of the housing and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction and the upper limit of the image correction amount is a zoom magnification or the like. It may be a means for changing the photographing magnification according to the time.

Further, the photographer sets an arbitrary value to at least one of the correction ratio between the shake amount of the captured image caused by the shake of the housing and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction and the upper limit value of the image correction amount. It is also possible to provide means for changing.

Further, it is possible to provide a judging means for operating the means for correcting the shake of the photographed image caused by the shake of the housing only with the shake of a predetermined value or more.

For convenience of shooting, a correction ratio between the shake amount of the shot image caused by the shake of the casing and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction and the image correction amount are displayed in the monitor for checking the image being shot. It is desirable to provide means for displaying at least one of the upper limits of the above.

From the means for changing at least one of the correction ratio between the shake amount of the photographed image caused by the shake of the casing and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction and the upper limit value of the image correction amount to the correcting means. A switching means for turning on / off the signal by the photographer may be provided.

[0017]

According to the present invention, a means for changing at least one of a correction ratio between the shake amount of a captured image caused by the shake of the housing and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction and the upper limit value of the image correction amount at the time of shooting. Since it is equipped with, the camera shake correction conditions can be finely changed according to the shaking of the housing, and the movement of the subject itself, which is not the camera shake of the video camera, is not corrected more than necessary, and it shoots as an unnatural movement. Can be avoided.

When a means for changing the camera shake correction condition in accordance with the photographing magnification is provided, the correction is performed sufficiently as much as when the image shake is amplified with respect to the camera shake, as in the case of high magnification shooting. If the zoom ratio is set so that the correction ratio or the image correction amount becomes higher, and conversely, if the zoom ratio becomes lower, the correction ratio or the image correction amount becomes lower, the pan operation or When the tilt operation is performed, the movement of the subject itself, which is not due to camera shake, is overcorrected, and an unnatural image is not produced.

Further, the photographer sets an arbitrary value to at least one of the correction ratio between the shake amount of the captured image caused by the shake of the housing and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction and the upper limit value of the image correction amount. With a means to change, the photographer can freely set the correction ratio and amount, so if you want to correct the image shake well, increase the setting value and intentionally move the camera like pan or tilt. In such a case, if the set value is lowered, a more natural image can be obtained.

Further, when the means for correcting the shake of the photographed image caused by the shake of the housing is operated only by the shake of the predetermined value or more, the photographing for allowing the hand shake less than the predetermined value can be executed. is there.

When a means for displaying at least one of a correction ratio between a shake amount of a captured image caused by the shake of the housing and an image correction amount at the time of shake correction and an upper limit value of the image correction amount is provided in the monitor, The photographer can make necessary changes and photograph while checking the correction conditions for camera shake according to the actual image conditions.

If the photographer is provided with a switching means for turning on / off the signal from the photographing condition changing means to the correcting means, the camera shake prevention setting condition up to then can be set.
You can instantly switch to shooting in which the camera shake is captured as it is, and you can obtain an image that takes advantage of the camera shake when necessary for video expression.

In the present specification, the present invention has been described by taking as an example a video camera which employs a zoom lens including a focal length which provides a high photographing magnification. However, the hand shake correction means of the present invention uses a high photographing magnification. It will be apparent that various lenses such as the single focal length telephoto lens can also be applied to a video camera in which the detachable interchangeable lens is applicable.

The present invention can be applied not only to a video camera but also to an electronic still camera for so-called follow shots.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of an image pickup apparatus provided with a camera shake preventing means according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of an image pickup apparatus, that is, a video camera having an image stabilizing unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a video camera having an image stabilizing unit according to the present invention. (A) Appearance of one embodiment and
(B) It is a figure which shows an example of a display in a viewfinder.

In the video camera of FIG. 2A, the optical signal from the subject 22 is taken in by the zoom lens 15, and the sound and the like near the subject are input by the stereo microphone 14. When the video camera is held by hand, the photographer holds the grip 16 and instructs the video camera to start / stop recording with the recording button 17. When the camera shake correction changeover switch 19 is turned on, the camera shake correction function can be operated, and further, either the automatic mode 19a or the manual mode 19b at the time of camera shake correction can be selected. Zooming in or zooming out of the subject 22 is instructed by the zoom button 13, and in the auto mode, the correction ratio and the upper limit of the image correction amount can be changed in association with the zoom magnification during shooting. On the other hand, in the manual mode, the correction ratio can be changed by operating the variable lever (or dial) 18.

Further, in FIG. 2B, the viewfinder 12 including the eyecup 21 and the viewfinder screen 20 for blocking unnecessary external light displays an image of the subject 22 during shooting. Viewfinder screen 2
Looking at the correction ratio within 0 and the image correction amount display section 23,
The upper limit value 23a of the image correction amount, the correction amount 23b during shooting, or the correction ratio can be confirmed.

Next, in the control system of FIG.
The optical signal from 2 is imaged on the image sensor 2 by the taking lens 1. The image sensor 2 converts an optical signal from the subject 22 into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the video signal processing means 3.
The video signal processing means 3 converts the video signal into a video signal and outputs it to the correction signal creating means 4.

On the other hand, the amount of shaking of the video camera at the time of shooting is
It is detected by the (external) vibration detecting means 6 and converted by the image shake amount calculating means 7 into the shake amount of the captured image caused by the shake of the video camera. The zoom magnification detecting means 10 detects the detected zoom magnification at the time of shooting. The switch operation amount detection means 11 detects the operation amount of the variable lever 18. The correction amount upper limit value and the correction ratio setting means 8 are variable from the shake amount signal of the captured image from the image shake amount calculating means 7, the zoom magnification at the time of shooting from the zoom magnification detecting means 10, and the switch operation amount detecting means 11. The operation amount of the lever 18 and the correction amount and the correction amount upper limit value for the shake amount of the captured image are set. Although not shown here, the video camera of the present embodiment is provided with a preset memory and stores a correction ratio and a correction amount upper limit value set by the photographer, and the tendency of image expression by the photographer is stored. You can reproduce the shooting conditions that suit your needs. Correction signal creating means 4
Creates a corrected video signal according to the set correction ratio and correction amount upper limit value. The corrected image output means 5 outputs the corrected video signal.

The correction ratio and the correction amount upper limit value are converted into a display signal by the correction amount upper limit value and the correction ratio display means 9 and output to the correction image output means 5 together with the correction image, which are combined here to be displayed in FIG. As shown in the viewfinder screen 20, the correction ratio and the image correction amount display section 23 on the lower side of the screen are displayed so as to be superimposed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of (B) camera shake correction operation in response to (A) pan operation of the video camera of this embodiment. In the video camera according to the present embodiment as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the correction ratio of the image correction amount with respect to the shake of the captured image and the upper limit of the image correction amount are changed, the pan operation is performed during the shake correction. However, the effect as shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the pan operation angle when the camera is moved by the pan operation is θ and the operation angle of the subject on the photographing screen is φ, the correction ratio is zero. , The magnitude of the pan operation angle θ and the operation angle φ is
It becomes equal as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, for example, when the correction ratio is 1, the correction is performed up to the upper limit of the correction amount on a one-to-one basis with respect to the movement of the subject, so the operating angle φ on the photographic screen becomes zero
The subject will appear to stop. Next, when the movement of the subject due to the pan operation exceeds the upper limit of the correction amount, camera shake correction is canceled, so it is necessary to move from the position where the movement angle φ is zero to the movement angle φ ₁ which is the actual position of the subject. Become.
When the pan operation is further continued, the motion angle φ of the subject becomes 0 → φ ₁ → φ ₂ with respect to the continuous movement of the camera, and it seems that the subject moves discontinuously.

Therefore, if the correction ratio is changed to, for example, 0.5, and the correction amount upper limit value at this time is also changed to half, the deviation between the actual position of the subject and the position of the subject on the photographing screen is caused. It becomes half, and the movement becomes more natural than when the correction ratio is 1.

If the correction ratio and the correction amount upper limit value are further reduced, the discontinuous movement of the subject with respect to the continuous movement of the camera is reduced.

In order to correct the camera shake more naturally during the pan operation, the correction operation after the correction amount upper limit value is exceeded,
It suffices to approximate the inclination of a straight line at which the pan operation angle θ and the operation angle φ are equal. For example, the movement of the subject at the time of correcting the correction amount upper limit value may be stored in a memory, and a correction operation may be performed to predict the movement after the correction amount upper limit value is exceeded.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a camera shake correction operation corresponding to a change in zoom magnification of the video camera of this embodiment. In FIG. 4, when a pan operation or a tilt operation is performed in a state where the correction ratio for a change in the zoom magnification is a high constant value (for example, the correction ratio = 1), the camera is moving for camera shake correction with a high correction ratio. An unnatural image in which the expected subject appears to stop appears.

On the other hand, in order to give priority to the naturalness of the image when the pan operation or the tilt operation is performed, if the correction ratio is set to a low value of 0.5, for example, a large shake of the image is sufficiently generated at the high magnification photographing. It cannot be corrected.

In this embodiment, the correction ratio is decreased when the zoom magnification is low, the correction ratio increases as the zoom magnification increases, and the upper limit of the image correction amount is also changed at the same time. As a result, camera shake correction linked with the zoom magnification can be realized, and a more natural image can be obtained.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a procedure for changing the camera shake correction ratio and the correction amount upper limit value in this embodiment.
When correcting the camera shake, the camera shake correction switch is turned on in step 501, but actually, in step 502, the camera shake correction changeover switch 19 shown in FIG. 2 is used to switch between the auto mode 19a, the manual mode 19b, and the non-correction mode. Select one.

If the auto mode is selected, step 5
In 03, the range of the zoom magnification for executing the camera shake correction is set. Here, since only the zoom range in which the camera shake correction is desired to be effective can be set, the correction ratio and the upper limit of the image correction amount can be changed more finely for various zoom magnifications. If no range is set, the entire zoom magnification range is automatically set. In step 504, the zoom button 13 is operated to zoom in / out the subject. In step 505, the zoom magnification is detected. In step 506,
It is determined whether the zoom magnification is within the set range. If it is within the set range, in step 507, the correction ratio and the upper limit value of the image correction amount are set in association with the zoom magnification. In step 508, the correction signal is created,
In step 509, camera shake correction is performed and a corrected image is output. Since the correction ratio or the upper limit value 23a of the image correction amount and the correction amount 23b during shooting at this time are displayed in the viewfinder 20, the photographer can check the displayed correction ratio and image correction amount, The setting range of the zoom magnification can be changed so that the optimum image stabilization is performed.

On the other hand, when the manual mode is selected in step 502, it is confirmed in step 510 whether the previous set value exists in the memory. If it already exists, then in step 511 the correction ratio is set to the set value in memory. If there is no set value in the memory, in step 512, a basic ratio of the image shake amount, that is, a 1: 1 correction ratio is set. In either case, in step 513, the photographer uses the variable lever 18 for changing the correction ratio and the correction amount upper limit value.
To operate manually. In step 514, this lever operation amount is detected. In step 515, a correction ratio and a correction amount upper limit value corresponding to the detected lever operation amount are set. In step 516, the set correction ratio and correction amount upper limit value are stored in the memory. When the power of the video camera is turned off, the contents of the memory are backed up by the calendar battery. In step 517, an actual correction signal is created, and in step 518, camera shake correction is executed and
The correction ratio and the correction amount upper limit value at this time are displayed in the viewfinder 12. Therefore, the photographer can change the correction ratio and the correction amount so as to obtain the optimum camera shake correction while looking at the displayed correction ratio and the image correction amount.

If it is determined in step 502 that correction is not necessary in order to be aware of the effect of camera shake, then in step 519 the non-correction mode is selected.

Although the lever-shaped switch is used as the switch for changing the correction ratio and the like, a button-shaped switch or the like may be used. Further, in order to omit the switch operation, it is possible to change the correction ratio and the correction amount by interlocking with the pressure of the grip when the photographer supports the video camera. Further, in this example, the upper limit value of the image correction amount is changed in association with the correction ratio in order to avoid the complexity of the operation of the switches, but the correction ratio and the upper limit value of the image correction amount are set as independent switches. It may be changed by.

[0045]

According to the present invention, at least one of a correction ratio between the shake amount of a captured image caused by the shake of the housing and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction and the upper limit value of the image correction amount is set at the time of shooting. Since the video camera is provided with a means for changing the shooting rate in response to the zoom magnification and / or in response to the switch operation of the photographer, if the shake of the image is to be sufficiently corrected, the correction ratio and the correction amount should be increased. The photographer can freely set the correction ratio and the correction amount such that the correction ratio and the correction amount are lowered when the camera shake correction is not required so much. Therefore, camera shake correction can be executed according to the movement of the housing, and a more natural image can be obtained.

Further, the photographer sets at least one of the correction ratio between the shake amount of the captured image caused by the shake of the housing and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction and the upper limit value of the image correction amount to an arbitrary value. With the means, the camera shake correction means can be operated from the stage where it exceeds an arbitrary set value.

Further, at least one of the correction ratio between the amount of shake of the photographed image caused by the shake of the casing and the image correction amount at the time of shake correction and the upper limit of the image correction amount is displayed in the monitor for confirming the photographed image. Since the means for displaying is displayed on the video camera, the photographer can appropriately change while confirming the correction ratio and the correction amount so that more natural shooting can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of an embodiment of a video camera provided with a camera shake correction unit according to the present invention.

2A and 2B are diagrams showing an external view (A) and an example of a display in a viewfinder (B) of an embodiment of a video camera provided with a camera shake correction unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of (B) camera shake correction operation for (A) pan operation of the video camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a camera shake correction operation according to a change in zoom magnification of the video camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a procedure for changing a camera shake correction ratio and a correction amount upper limit value according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photographing lens 2 Image sensor 3 Video signal processing means 4 Correction signal creating means 5 Corrected image output means 6 (External) Vibration detection means 7 Image shake amount calculation means 8 Correction amount upper limit value and correction ratio setting means 9 Correction amount upper limit value and Correction ratio display means 10 Zoom magnification detection means 11 Switch operation amount detection means 12 Viewfinder 13 Zoom button 14 Stereo microphone 15 Zoom lens 16 Grip 17 Recording button 18 Variable lever 19 Image stabilization switch 19a Auto mode 19b Manual mode 20 Viewfinder screen 21 Eye cup 22 Subject 23 Correction ratio and image correction amount display 23a Image correction amount upper limit 23b Image correction amount during shooting

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Kazuo Sakai, 502 Jinritsucho, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki Machinery Research Laboratories, Hiritsu Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Tatsuya Shimomura, 1410, Inada, Katsuta-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi, Ltd. AV Equipment Division

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup device for converting an optical image of a photographing lens into an electric signal, a unit for detecting a shake of a casing of an image pickup apparatus at the time of photographing, and a unit for correcting a shake of a photographed image caused by the shake of the casing. In an image pickup apparatus including :, at least one of a correction ratio between a shake amount of a captured image caused by the shake of the housing and an image correction amount at the time of shake correction and an upper limit value of the image correction amount is changed at the time of shooting. An imaging device comprising means. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a correction ratio between a shake amount of a captured image caused by shake of the housing and an image correction amount at the time of shake correction, and an upper limit value of the image correction amount. An image pickup apparatus comprising means for changing at least one of them according to a shooting magnification at the time of shooting. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a correction ratio between a shake amount of a captured image caused by the shake of the housing and an image correction amount at the time of shake correction, and An image pickup apparatus, comprising: a means for a photographer to set and change at least one of the upper limit values of the image correction amounts. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for correcting the shake of a captured image caused by the shake of the housing is operated only with a shake of a predetermined value or more. An imaging device comprising means. 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein a monitor for confirming an image being taken, and an image pickup caused by shaking of the housing in the monitor. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a means for displaying at least one of a correction ratio between an image shake amount and an image correction amount at the time of shake correction and an upper limit value of the image correction amount. 6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shake amount of a captured image caused by shake of the casing and an image correction amount at the time of shake correction are set. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a switching unit that turns on / off a signal from a unit that changes at least one of a correction ratio between the two and an upper limit value of the image correction amount at the time of shooting, to a correction unit.