JPH10288803A - Image pickup device and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a high-resolution image, even if a solid-state image pickup element having a small number of picture elements is used, without increasing the number of the solid-state image pickup elements. SOLUTION: The drive control of the first - fourth electromagnet parts 7-10 of an electromagnetic actuator 5 is executed by a control means, one lens 4b of an image pickup lens part for forming the image of an object on the solid- state pickup element is successively moved into four different directions centering on an optical axis, whenever exposure is attained four times and each image data obtained by the exposure of four times is synthesized by a synthesizing means, to generate synthetic image data for one picture, so that it is all right to use only one solid-state image pickup element, without increasing the number of the solid-state image pickup elements and further, even if the solid- state image pickup element whose picture elements are small in number is used, the high-resolution image can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and an image pickup method used for an electronic camera and a video camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image pickup apparatus used in an electronic camera, an image of a subject is formed on a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD by an image pickup lens, and the formed image is converted into an electric signal by the solid-state image pickup device. The output signal is formed as an image of the subject. In this case, the solid-state imaging device includes a light receiving unit in which light receiving pixels are arranged vertically and horizontally, and a charge transfer unit that transfers charges obtained in each light receiving pixel of the light receiving unit. In order to increase the resolution of an image with such an imaging device, a method of increasing the number of pixels of a light receiving unit of a solid-state imaging device, or a method of dispersing light from a subject into three wavelengths of red, green, and blue, and There is a method in which light is received by three solid-state imaging devices, and the obtained image data is combined.

[0003]

However, the former method of increasing the number of pixels has a structure in which the fixed image pickup device accumulates electric charges obtained in each light receiving pixel in a charge transfer section and sequentially transfers the accumulated electric charges. For this reason, if the area of each light receiving pixel is reduced, it becomes difficult to accumulate electric charges. Therefore, there is a limit in reducing the area of the light receiving pixel, and there is a limit in increasing the integration degree without changing the light receiving size. In the latter method,
Not only does the number of solid-state imaging devices increase, but a device for decomposing light from a subject into three wavelengths is required. Therefore, there are disadvantages that the entire apparatus is increased in size and the cost is increased.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-resolution image without increasing the number of solid-state imaging devices and using a solid-state imaging device with a small number of pixels.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a solid-state imaging device in which light receiving pixels are arranged vertically and horizontally, an imaging lens unit for forming an image of a subject on the solid-state imaging device, and at least one of the imaging lens units. An actuator for moving the lens of the unit with respect to the optical axis, a control unit for driving and controlling the actuator so that at least a part of the lens of the imaging lens unit moves in different directions a plurality of times, and at least a part of the imaging lens unit. A synthesizing unit for synthesizing image data obtained by moving the lens a plurality of times to generate synthesized image data of one screen. Therefore, according to the present invention, by controlling the drive of the actuator by the control means, at least a part of the lens of the imaging lens unit that forms an image of the subject on the solid-state imaging device is moved a plurality of times in directions different from the optical axis. The image data is moved, and a plurality of image data obtained thereby is synthesized by the synthesizing means to obtain 1
Since the composite image data of the screen is generated, only one solid-state image sensor needs to be scattered without increasing the number of solid-state image sensors, and a high-resolution image can be obtained even with a solid-state image sensor having a small number of pixels. be able to.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an imaging apparatus. This imaging apparatus has a configuration in which an imaging unit 1 and a solid-state imaging device 2 are arranged on an optical axis O in order from the subject side. The solid-state imaging device 2 includes a light receiving section in which light receiving pixels are arranged vertically and horizontally, and a charge transfer section such as a CCD for transferring electric charges obtained in each light receiving pixel of the light receiving section, and receives light from a subject. The image signal is converted into an electric signal and output as image data, and is attached to the circuit board 3. The photographing unit 1 includes a photographing lens unit 4 and an electromagnetic actuator 5. The photographing lens unit 4 forms an image of a subject on the solid-state imaging device 2, and includes a plurality of lenses 4 a to 4 a.
4c, and the plurality of lenses 4a to 4c are arranged in the lens barrel 6.

The electromagnetic actuator 5 includes a photographing lens unit 4
Among the plurality of lenses 4a to 4c, for example, one lens 4b located in the middle is moved in a plurality of directions orthogonal to the optical axis O. As shown in FIG.
The first to fourth electromagnets 7 to 10 are provided corresponding to the four sides of the substantially square lens frame 13 provided on the outer periphery of b. The first to fourth electromagnet units 7 to 10 each include a coil 11 and a magnet 12. The magnets 12 are provided in the middle of four sides of the lens frame 13, respectively. The coil 11 is provided on each side of the guide groove 6a having a substantially square shape in which the coil 11 is freely movably inserted.

That is, of the first to fourth electromagnets 7 to 10, for example, the first electromagnet 7 is, as shown in FIG.
When placed on the right side of the lens frame 13 and a positive current is supplied to the coil 11, the magnet 12 is attracted by the magnetic field generated in the coil 11, thereby moving the lens 4b to the right side, and conversely to the coil 11 When a negative current is supplied, the magnetic field generated in the coil 11 causes the magnet 12
Are repelled, thereby moving the lens 4b to the left. As shown in FIG. 2, the second electromagnet unit 8 is disposed on the lower side of the lens frame 13 and has a coil 11
When a positive current is supplied to the coil 11, the magnet 12 is attracted by the magnetic field generated in the coil 11, thereby moving the lens 4b downward. Conversely, when a negative current is supplied to the coil 11, the coil 11 The magnet 12 is repelled by the magnetic field generated at this time, thereby moving the lens 4b upward.

Similarly, the third electromagnet section 9 is disposed on the left side of the lens frame 13 as shown in FIG. 2, and when a positive current is supplied to the coil 11, the third electromagnet section 9 is magnetized by a magnetic field generated in the coil 11. 12 is aspirated, whereby the lens 4
When b moves to the left and a negative current is supplied to the coil 11, the magnet 12 is repelled by the magnetic field generated in the coil 11, thereby moving the lens 4b to the right. As shown in FIG. 2, the fourth electromagnet unit 10 is disposed on the upper side of the lens frame 13. When a positive current is supplied to the coil 11, the magnet 12 is attracted by a magnetic field generated in the coil 11, Moves the lens 4b upward, and conversely, when a negative current is supplied to the coil 11, the magnet 12 is repelled by the magnetic field generated in the coil 11, thereby moving the lens 4b downward. ing.

Here, the operation of the electromagnetic actuator 5 will be described. In the electromagnetic actuator 5, a positive current is supplied to two coils 11 adjacent to each other, and a negative current is supplied to two coils 11 opposed to each other. X2, Y
1. Move in four directions of Y2. For example, a positive current is supplied to each coil 11 of the first and second electromagnet sections 7 and 8 to attract the corresponding magnet 12, and a negative current is supplied to the third and fourth electromagnet sections 9 and 10. Is supplied and the magnet 12 corresponding thereto is repelled.
The lens 4 b is moved rightward by the electromagnets 7 and 9, and the lens 4 b is moved by the second and fourth electromagnets 8 and 10.
b moves to the lower side, and these synthetic directions, ie, arrow X1
The lens 4b moves diagonally downward and to the right as indicated by. As a result, the image of the subject moves diagonally downward and to the right on the light receiving unit of the solid-state imaging device 2, and as shown in FIG.
Is moved to one light receiving pixel G.

Similarly, a positive current is supplied to each of the coils 11 of the second and third electromagnet sections 8 and 9 to attract the corresponding magnet 12, and the fourth and first electromagnet sections 1 and 9 are attracted.
When a negative current is supplied to 0 and 7 and the corresponding magnet 12 is repelled, the lens 4b is moved downward by the second and fourth electromagnet portions 8 and 10, and the third and first electromagnets are moved. The lens 4b is moved to the left by the parts 9 and 7,
The lens 4b moves in the combined direction, that is, diagonally below and to the left indicated by the arrow Y1. As a result, the image of the subject moves diagonally downward and left on the light receiving section of the solid-state imaging device 2,
As shown in FIG. 3, the pixel B of the subject is replaced with one light receiving pixel G
Move to

Further, a positive current is supplied to each coil 11 of the third and fourth electromagnet portions 9 and 10 to attract the corresponding magnet 12, and the first and second electromagnet portions 7,
8 to supply a negative current to the corresponding magnet 1
2, the lens 4b is moved leftward by the third and first electromagnet parts 9, 7, and the lens 4b is moved upward by the fourth and second electromagnet parts 10, 8, so that the combined direction of That is, the lens 4b moves diagonally to the upper left as indicated by the arrow X2. As a result, the image of the subject moves diagonally up and to the left on the light receiving section of the solid-state imaging device 2, and FIG.
The pixel C of the subject is moved to one light receiving pixel G as shown in FIG.

Further, a positive current is supplied to each coil 11 of the fourth and first electromagnet sections 10 and 7 to attract the corresponding magnet 12, and the second and third electromagnet sections 8 and 9 are supplied with a positive current. When a negative current is supplied and the corresponding magnet 12 is repelled, the lens 4b is moved upward by the fourth and second electromagnet parts 10 and 8, and is also moved by the first and third electromagnet parts 7 and 9. The lens 4b moves to the right,
The lens 4b moves in these combined directions, that is, in the upper right direction as indicated by the arrow Y2. As a result, the image of the subject moves diagonally to the upper right on the light receiving section of the solid-state imaging device 2,
As shown in FIG. 3, the pixel D of the subject is
Move to

Next, a circuit configuration of such an imaging device will be described with reference to FIG. This circuit configuration includes a solid-state imaging device 2 that converts an image of a subject formed by the imaging lens unit 4 into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal, and an A / D converter that converts an analog signal from the solid-state imaging device 2 into a digital signal. 15, a first drive circuit 16 for driving the solid-state imaging device 2, a second drive circuit 17 for driving the electromagnetic actuator 5, and a timing for generating a timing signal for controlling the first and second drive circuits 16 and 17. Generator 18, DRAM 1 for temporarily recording captured digital image data
9. Compression / compression of digital image data /
A compression / decompression circuit 20 for decompression processing, a flash memory 21 for storing synthesized image data compressed as one screen,
A CPU 2 that operates based on a program recorded in a ROM 22 and controls each unit based on an input from an input unit 24 using a RAM 23 as a work RAM.
5. a signal generator 26 for generating a digital video signal by adding a synchronization signal to digital image data; a VRAM 27 for recording a digital video signal;
A D / A converter 28 that converts the digital video signal output from the generator 26 into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal;
It comprises an interface 29 for inputting and outputting image signals and the like converted into serial signals by the PU 25.

The operation of the circuit thus configured will be described. At the time of photographing, when the input unit 24 is operated and a timing signal is output from the timing generator 19, the second driving circuit 17 is controlled to control the electromagnetic actuator 5.
And the first drive circuit 16 is controlled to take out an image signal corresponding to the image of the subject by the solid-state imaging device 2, and convert an analog signal into a digital signal by the A / D converter 15 to obtain digital image data. DRAM 19
To be stored temporarily. The image data stored in the DRAM 19 is read by the CPU 25 and subjected to color calculation processing to create a luminance signal and a color signal from the image data. The luminance signal and the chrominance signal are transferred to the compression / decompression circuit 20 for data compression. And
One screen of composite image data is stored in the flash memory 21. When the input unit 24 is operated at the time of image reproduction, one screen of compressed composite image data (compressed luminance signal and color signal) is read from the flash memory 21 by the CPU.
The data is read out at 25 and transferred to the compression / decompression circuit 20 to expand the data. The expanded luminance signal and chrominance signal are transferred to the signal generator 26 to form a digital video signal. The signal is converted into an analog video signal by the A converter 28 and output.

Next, the operation for photographing a subject with such an image pickup apparatus will be specifically described. In this imaging device, the first to fourth electromagnet portions 7 of the electromagnetic actuator 5
The image of the subject is moved in four directions by controlling the driving of .about.10, and four exposures are performed according to this movement to take one shot. That is, at the time of the first exposure, for example, the coils 1 of the first and second electromagnet units 7 and 8 of the electromagnetic actuator 5 are used.
1, a negative current is supplied to the coils 11 of the third and fourth electromagnet sections 9, 10, and the lens 4b
Is moved obliquely downward to the right as indicated by arrow X1 in FIG. As a result, the image of the subject formed by the photographing lens unit 4 shifts obliquely downward and rightward on the light receiving unit of the solid-state imaging device 2, and as shown in FIG. Move to G. The image of the subject is converted into an electric signal by the solid-state imaging device 2 and output as image data by the first exposure.

At the time of the second exposure, a positive current is supplied to the coils 11 of the second and third electromagnet sections 8 and 9 of the electromagnetic actuator 5 and the coils of the fourth and first electromagnet sections 10 and 7 are supplied. A negative current is supplied to the lens 11 to move the lens 4b obliquely downward to the left as indicated by an arrow Y1 in FIG. As a result, the image of the subject formed by the photographing lens unit 4 is shifted obliquely to the lower left on the light receiving unit of the solid-state imaging device 2, and as shown in FIG. Move to G. The image of the subject is converted into an electric signal by the solid-state imaging device 2 and output as image data by the second exposure.

At the time of the third exposure, a positive current is supplied to the coils 11 of the third and fourth electromagnet sections 9 and 10 of the electromagnetic actuator 5 and the coils of the first and second electromagnet sections 7 and 8 are supplied. A negative current is supplied to 11, and the lens 4b is moved diagonally to the upper left as indicated by an arrow X2 in FIG. As a result, the image of the subject formed by the photographing lens unit 4 shifts obliquely to the upper left on the light receiving unit of the solid-state imaging device 2, and as shown in FIG. Move to G. The image of the subject is converted into an electric signal by the solid-state imaging device 2 and output as image data by the third exposure.

At the time of the fourth exposure, a positive current is supplied to the coils 11 of the fourth and first electromagnet sections 10 and 7 of the electromagnetic actuator 5 and the coils of the second and third electromagnet sections 8 and 9 are supplied. A negative current is supplied to 11, and the lens 4b is moved obliquely upward to the right as indicated by an arrow Y2 in FIG. As a result, the image of the subject formed by the photographing lens unit 4 is shifted obliquely to the upper right on the light receiving unit of the solid-state imaging device 2, and as shown in FIG. Move to G. The image of the subject is converted into an electric signal by the solid-state imaging device 2 and output as image data by the fourth exposure.

As described above, in this imaging apparatus, by synthesizing each image data obtained by the four exposures in synchronization with the drive control of the electromagnetic actuator 5, it is possible to generate synthesized image data of one screen. Therefore, it is possible to use only one solid-state imaging device 2 without increasing the number of solid-state imaging devices 2 and obtain a high-resolution image even with the solid-state imaging device 2 having a small number of pixels. . Further, in this imaging device, the first to first electromagnetic actuators 5
The installation positions of the fourth electromagnet units 7 to 10, that is, the intersection angles of the lines connecting the two sets of electromagnet units 7, 9 or 8, 10 facing each other, and the separation distance between each coil 11 and each magnet 12 are appropriately set. By doing so, the movement locus of one pixel of the subject can be made into a square, rectangle, or quadrangular movement locus such as a parallelogram or a rhombus. Can be set.

In the first embodiment, each coil 1 of the first to fourth electromagnets 7 to 10 of the electromagnetic actuator 5 is used.
1 is supplied with a positive current and a negative current. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Only one of a positive current and a negative current is supplied to move the lens 4b in four directions. You may do it. In the first embodiment, the electromagnetic actuator 5 includes the first to fourth electromagnets 7 to 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Only two electromagnets adjacent to each other at an angle of about 90 ° are used. You may comprise. For example, when only the first and second electromagnets 7 and 8 are provided, a positive current is supplied to the coil 11 of the first electromagnet 7 to
b is moved to the right, a negative current is supplied to the coil portion 11 to move the lens 4b to the left, and a positive current is supplied to the coil portion 11 of the second electromagnet portion 8 to move the lens 4b downward. Side, and by supplying a negative current to the coil unit 11 to move the lens 4b upward, the lens 4b
May be moved in four directions.

In the first embodiment, the lens 4b
Is moved in four directions, but is not limited to this.
It may be moved in the direction. In this case, the electromagnetic actuator may be configured with only one electromagnet section, or may be configured with two electromagnet sections facing each other. Further, in the first embodiment, the coils 11 of the first to fourth electromagnets 7 to 10 of the electromagnetic actuator 5 are provided in the lens barrel 6 and are separated from and opposed to the magnets 12.
Is provided in the lens frame 13, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, each coil 11 may be provided in the lens frame 13, and each magnet 12 may be provided in the lens barrel 6 so as to be spaced apart and opposed to the coil 11.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. This imaging device has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except that the displacement actuator 30 is different, as shown in FIG. The displacement actuator 30 is, for example, one of the plurality of lenses 4 a to 4 c of the photographing lens unit 4 which is located at an intermediate position.
The two lenses 4b are moved in a plurality of directions perpendicular to the optical axis O. As shown in FIG. 6, the two lenses 4b are positioned between two orthogonal sides of a substantially square lens frame 13 provided on the outer periphery of the lens 4b. First and second displacement elements 31, 32 located
And first and second elastic guide members 33 and 34 located at locations facing the first and second displacement elements 31 and 32.

Each of the first and second displacement elements 31 and 32 is composed of a piezo element or a shape memory element which deforms when a voltage is applied and returns to its original shape when the voltage is cut off. And the inner wall of the lens barrel 6. For example, the first displacement element 31 is disposed on the upper side of the lens frame 13, and the second displacement element 32 is disposed on the lens frame 1.
3 is arranged on the right side. In addition, the first and second elastic guide members 33 and 34 are provided with guide plates 33a and 34, respectively.
a and spring members 33b, 34 such as coil springs and leaf springs
b, and the guide plates 33a and 34a
The lens frame 13 is slidably biased to each side of the lens frame 13 by the spring force of b and 34b. In this case, the first
The elastic guide member 33 is disposed on the lower side of the lens frame 13 facing the first displacement element 31, and the second elastic guide member 34
Is disposed on the left side of the lens frame 13 facing the second displacement element 32.

Here, such a displacement actuator 3
The operation of 0 will be described. This displacement actuator 3
0 is the first and second elastic guide members 3 in the initial state where no voltage is applied to the first and second displacement elements 31 and 32.
3 and 34 are urged toward the first and second displacement elements 31 and 32 by the spring force of the respective spring members 33b and 34b, whereby one pixel D of the subject in FIG.
Corresponds to one light-receiving pixel G of the light-receiving section of the solid-state imaging device 2. In this state, for example, when a voltage is applied to the first displacement element 31, the first displacement element 31 is deformed against the spring force of the spring member 33b of the first elastic guide member 33 facing the first displacement element 31. 13 is moved downward by being guided by the guide plate 34a of the second elastic guide member 34, and moves the pixel A of the subject to one light receiving pixel G.

When a voltage is applied to the second displacement element 32 in the initial state, the second displacement element 32
The elastic frame 34 is deformed against the spring force of the spring member 34b of the elastic guide member 34, whereby the lens frame 13 is moved to the right by being guided by the guide plate 33a of the first elastic guide member 33, and the pixel C of the subject is moved to one pixel. Move to light receiving pixel G. Further, when a voltage is applied to each of the first and second displacement elements 31 and 32, the first displacement element 31 is deformed against the spring force of the spring member 33b of the first elastic guide member 33 opposed thereto, and The second displacement element 32 has a second
The elastic guide member 34 is deformed against the spring force of the spring member 34b, whereby the lens frame 13 is guided by the guide plates 33a, 34a of the first and second elastic guide members 33, 34, respectively, so that the lens frame 13 is diagonally lower left. And moves the pixel B of the subject to 1
To one light receiving pixel G.

In such an imaging apparatus, the image of the subject is moved in four directions by controlling the driving of the first and second displacement elements 31 and 32 of the displacement actuator 30, and four exposures are performed in accordance with the movement. By taking one shot, the first
As in the embodiment, the image of the subject is sequentially converted into an electric signal by the solid-state imaging device 2 to output each image data by each exposure, and each image data obtained by the four exposures is used for drive control of the displacement actuator 30. By synchronizing and synthesizing, it is possible to generate synthesized image data of one screen. Therefore, only one solid-state image sensor 2 needs to be used without increasing the number of solid-state image sensors 2 and the number of pixels is reduced. Even if a small number of solid-state imaging devices 2 are used, a high-resolution image can be obtained. Further, in this imaging apparatus, the installation positions of the first and second displacement elements 31 and 32 of the displacement actuator 30, that is, the respective centers of the first displacement element 31 and the first elastic guide member 33 facing each other, or the second displacement Intersection angle of a line connecting the centers of the element 32 and the second elastic guide member 34,
By appropriately setting the amount of displacement of each of the displacement elements 31 and 32, the movement locus of one pixel of the subject can be changed to a square or rectangle, or a rectangular movement locus such as a parallelogram or a rhombus, Thus, the moving distance of each of the pixels A to D of the subject can be appropriately set.

In the second embodiment, the first and the second
Although the lens 4b is moved in four directions using the displacement elements 31 and 32, the invention is not limited to this, and the lens 4b may be moved in two directions using any one of the displacement elements.
In this case, a spring member may be provided at a position facing the displacement element with the lens 4b interposed therebetween, and one end of one displacement element is fixed to the lens frame 13 and the other end is fixed to the lens barrel 6. May be.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Also in this case, the same portions as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 7, this imaging apparatus has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except that the rotation actuator 40 is different. The rotation actuator 40 rotates around the optical axis O in a state where, for example, one of the plurality of lenses 4a to 4c of the photographing lens unit 4 is positioned at an intermediate position with respect to the optical axis O. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a step motor 41 provided on the outer periphery of the lens barrel 6 of the photographing lens unit 4 includes a step motor 41.
And a transmission member 42 that transmits the rotation of the lens 4b to the lens 4b. In this case, the lens 4b is provided in a state of being eccentric to the ring-shaped lens frame 43 provided on its outer periphery, that is, in a state where the center R of the lens 4b is displaced from the optical axis O. The transmission member 42 includes a driven gear 44 provided on the outer periphery of the lens frame 43 and a driving gear 45 provided on the output shaft of the step motor 41 and rotating by meshing with the driven gear 44.

In such an image pickup apparatus, when the step motor 41 is intermittently rotated to rotate the lens 4b once, four exposures are performed and one photographing is performed. That is,
In FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, when the first exposure is performed in a state where the center R of the lens 4b is positioned obliquely right below the optical axis O, one pixel A of the subject becomes a light receiving pixel G of the light receiving unit. The solid-state image sensor 2 converts the image of the subject into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal as image data by the first exposure. Thereafter, when the stepping motor 41 is rotated and the lens frame 43 is sequentially rotated clockwise in FIG. 8 by about 90 ° at a time, the center R of the lens 4b is shifted obliquely downward, left obliquely upward, and obliquely rightward of the optical axis O. In this order, one of the pixels B, C, and D of the subject is sequentially received by the light receiving pixels G of the light receiving unit, and the image of the subject is converted into an electric signal by the solid-state imaging device 2 and the second and subsequent times. Is output as each image data by the exposure. Then, by synthesizing each image data obtained by the four exposures in synchronization with the drive control of the rotary actuator 40, it is possible to generate synthesized image data of one screen. For this reason, even in this imaging apparatus, only one solid-state imaging element 2 needs to be used without increasing the number of solid-state imaging elements 2, and even if the solid-state imaging element 2 with a small number of pixels is used, a high-resolution image can be obtained. Can be obtained.

In the first to third embodiments, one of the plurality of lenses 4a to 4c of the photographing lens unit 4 is moved with respect to the optical axis O by an actuator. The invention is not limited thereto, and the entire imaging lens unit 4 may be moved by an actuator.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, at least a part of the lens of the imaging lens unit that forms an image of a subject on the solid-state imaging device is controlled by controlling the driving of the actuator by the control unit. It is moved a plurality of times with respect to the axis in different directions, and the plurality of image data obtained thereby is synthesized by the synthesizing means to generate one screen of synthesized image data. It is sufficient to use only a solid-state imaging device, and a high-resolution image can be obtained even when a solid-state imaging device having a small number of pixels is used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a first embodiment of an imaging device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram conceptually showing the electromagnetic actuator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a moving state of one pixel of a subject on a light receiving unit of the solid-state imaging device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the imaging device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a second embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram conceptually showing the displacement actuator of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a third embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram conceptually showing the rotary actuator of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 solid-state imaging device 4 imaging lens unit 4a to 4b lens 5 electromagnetic actuator 7 to 10 first to fourth electromagnet unit 16 first drive circuit 17 second drive circuit 18 timing generator 25 CPU 30 displacement actuator 31 first displacement element 32 first 2 displacement element 40 rotation actuator 41 step motor 42 transmission member O optical axis

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A solid-state imaging device in which light receiving pixels are arranged vertically and horizontally, an imaging lens unit for forming an image of a subject on the solid-state imaging device, and at least a part of a lens of the imaging lens unit with respect to an optical axis. An actuator for moving the actuator so that at least some of the lenses of the imaging lens unit move in different directions a plurality of times; and An image capturing apparatus comprising: a combining unit configured to combine image data obtained by the movement to generate combined image data of one screen. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes at least one electromagnet disposed on an outer periphery of the imaging lens.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electromagnet unit is driven to move at least a part of the lens of the imaging lens unit a plurality of times in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.
An imaging device according to any one of the preceding claims. 3. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes at least one displacement element disposed on an outer periphery of the imaging lens unit.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one displacement element is driven to move at least a part of the lens of the imaging lens unit a plurality of times in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.
An imaging device according to any one of the preceding claims. 4. The imaging lens unit includes: a motor disposed on an outer periphery of the imaging lens unit; and transmission means for transmitting rotation of the motor to at least a part of lenses of the imaging lens unit. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the lens is rotated about the optical axis while being shifted with respect to the optical axis. 5. An actuator for moving at least a part of the lens of the imaging lens unit with respect to an optical axis when an image of a subject is formed by an imaging lens unit on a solid-state imaging device in which light receiving pixels are arranged vertically and horizontally. Is controlled by the control means, thereby moving at least a part of the lens of the imaging lens unit in different directions a plurality of times, and synthesizing the image data obtained by the plurality of movements by the synthesizing means. An imaging method characterized by generating composite image data of a screen.