JPH11313239A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To photograph a still image with excellent image quality while photographing a moving image. SOLUTION: In the device 1 such as a video camera 1, when the user depresses a still image button 19, a timing signal generating circuit 17 generates a timing signal to generate an image pickup signal of a progressive system by one field and gives the signal to a CCD image sensor 12. The CCD image sensor 12 outputs the image pickup signal of the progressive system by one field from an odd numbered field that comes just after the timing when the still image button 19 is depressed. Furthermore, a still image processing circuit 18 senses depression of the still image button 19, the circuit 18 receives an odd numbered field that comes just after the timing when the still image button 19 is depressed, that is, photographed data is fetched by one field of the progressing system from an A/D converter 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of capturing a still image while capturing a moving image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, images can be checked immediately,
Digital still cameras are provided that are easy to process. The digital still camera captures and stores an image signal of the entire frame in one photographing operation, so that the image is less likely to be blurred.

[0003] On the other hand, an image pickup apparatus for taking a moving image is 1 /
Adopts an interlaced system that alternately outputs the imaging signals of odd lines or even lines in 60 seconds.
An imaging device having a function of not only capturing a moving image but also capturing a still image has been proposed. Such an imaging device,
When the release button for photographing a still image is pressed, the image pickup signals of the odd field and the even field are combined, and a process of capturing the combined image signal as a generated image is performed.

[0004]

However, since the image pickup signal generated by the image pickup apparatus is of an interlaced type, there is a problem that a still image is blurred and the image quality is not good.

More specifically, in the interlaced system, one image (one frame) is composed of odd and even fields. However, there is a time difference of 1/60 (or 1/50) second between fields, and when a moving subject is photographed, the images of the odd field and the even field are different. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, when the moving subject A is photographed, the still image is blurred.

In order to avoid such a problem, as shown in FIG. 6, an imaging signal of an even field (or an odd field) of the subject A may be extracted and used as a still image. . However, in this case, there is a problem that the resolution in the vertical direction is halved and the image quality in the vertical direction is deteriorated.

[0007] The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus capable of capturing a still image with good image quality while capturing a moving image.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention converts an imaging signal generated by imaging light from a subject into an interlace system or a progressive system based on a timing signal. Imaging means for outputting, operating means for performing an input operation of a timing for capturing a still image, and timing signal generating means for generating a timing signal for the imaging means to output an interlaced or progressive imaging signal,
Storage means for storing a still image, wherein the timing signal generation means generates a timing signal for outputting an interlaced imaging signal, and is progressive for a predetermined period when the input operation is performed on the operation means. A timing signal for outputting an image pickup signal of a system is generated, and the storage means stores a progressive image signal output from the image pickup means.

According to the imaging device, the timing signal generating means generates a timing signal for outputting an interlaced imaging signal, and when the input operation is performed on the operation means, the timing signal generation means generates the timing signal of the progressive system for a predetermined period. A timing signal for outputting an imaging signal is generated, whereby the progressive imaging signal output from the imaging means is stored as a still image by the storage means.

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an image pickup means for generating a progressive image pickup signal based on image pickup light from a subject; and a signal for converting the image pickup signal from the image pickup means to an interlace image pickup signal. A conversion unit; an operation unit for performing an input operation of a timing for capturing a still image; and a storage unit for storing, as a still image, an imaging signal from the imaging unit when the input operation is performed on the operation unit. .

According to the imaging apparatus, the imaging means generates a progressive imaging signal based on the imaging light from the subject, and outputs the interlaced imaging signal via the signal conversion means. The storage means stores an image signal from the imaging means as a still image when the input operation is performed on the operation means.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
Is applied to the video camera device 1 shown in FIG.

The video camera device 1 includes an imaging lens 1
The CCD image sensor 12 outputs an image signal by the image pickup light of the object condensed by 1 and a correlated double sampling process (Correlated Double Sampling: hereinafter referred to as “CD”
S ". A) a circuit 13, an A / D converter 14 for digitizing the image signal, a digital signal processing circuit (DSP) 15 for performing predetermined signal processing on the image data, and the image data after the predetermined signal processing is recorded. Timing signal generating circuit 1 for generating a timing signal for driving recording medium 16 and CCD image sensor 12
7 and a still image processing circuit 18 that captures and stores a still image from the image data from the A / D converter 14.

The CCD image sensor 12 outputs an image signal of an interlace system or a progressive system, and outputs one of the above-mentioned image signals in accordance with a timing signal from a timing signal generation circuit 17.

The CDS circuit 13 performs waveform shaping by performing a correlated double sampling process on the image pickup signal from the CCD image sensor 12, and outputs an image pickup signal from which so-called reset noise has been removed.

The A / D converter 14 includes a CDS circuit 13
The image data is supplied to the digital signal processing circuit 15 and the still image processing circuit 18 by digitizing the image signal.

The digital signal processing circuit 15 performs digital signal processing such as white balance adjustment, non-linear processing such as gamma correction and knee processing, and hue adjustment on the image data, and supplies the data to a liquid crystal display panel (not shown). . Thus, the user can confirm the position of the subject to be photographed while looking at the liquid crystal display panel.

The recording medium 16 is not particularly limited as long as it can record data such as a magnetic tape, an optical disk, and a magnetic disk.

When the user presses the recording button 20, the digital signal processing circuit 15 starts a process of writing the image data after the predetermined signal processing to the recording medium 16. As a result, the moving image of the subject is recorded on the recording medium 16.

Next, when the user presses the still image button 19, the timing signal generation circuit 17 generates a timing signal for generating one progressive image pickup signal and supplies it to the CCD image sensor 2. C
As shown in FIG. 2, the CD image sensor 2 outputs one progressive image pickup signal from the even field next to the timing when the still image button 19 is pressed.

When the still image processing circuit 18 detects that the still image button 19 is pressed, the still image processing circuit 18 starts a single progressive image pickup data from the even field next to the timing when the still image button 19 is pressed. A / D
Import from converter 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the captured still image is a progressive imaging data captured in 1/60 second, so that there is no blur at all, and the captured still image is obtained by synthesizing the imaging data of the odd field and the even field. The image quality is better than that.

On the other hand, the timing signal generation circuit 17 outputs a timing signal for generating one progressive-type image pickup signal, and then generates a timing signal for outputting an interlace-type image pickup signal.
Supply to the D image sensor 2. Therefore, the CCD image sensor 2 outputs an image signal of one progressive image and then outputs an image signal of a normal interlace method.

The still image processing circuit 18 stores the image data of the fetched still image and supplies it to, for example, the liquid crystal display panel. This allows the user to check the captured still image. Note that the still image processing circuit 18 may perform the writing process on the recording medium 16 after the recording of the moving image is completed, or may record the moving image on a recording medium different from the recording medium 16 on which the moving image is recorded. Good.

As described above, the video camera device 1
Generates an image signal in an interlaced format when recording a moving image, and generates an image signal in a progressive format only when recording a still image. You can shoot.

The timing signal generating circuit 17 generates a timing signal for generating one progressive image pickup signal at the time of photographing a still image.
This may affect the moving image. However, since a progressive imaging signal is generated for only 1/30 second, a still image can be captured with little effect on a moving image.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Is applied to the video camera device 20 having the configuration shown in FIG.

The video camera device 30 comprises a CCD image sensor 32 for outputting an image signal by the image pickup light of a subject condensed by an image pickup lens 31, and a CDS circuit 33 for performing a correlated double sampling process on the image signal.
And an A / D converter 34 for digitizing the imaging signal
A first switching circuit 35 for converting the imaging data from the progressive system to the interlacing system, a second switching circuit 36 for switching the output of the imaging data,
In-first-out memory (First-In-First-O
ut memory: Hereinafter, "FIFO memory". ) 37
A digital signal processing circuit 38, a recording medium 39,
And a still image processing circuit 41.

The CCD image sensor 32 outputs a progressive image pickup signal at twice the normal speed. That is, the CCD image sensor 32 outputs the imaging signals from all the pixels in a progressive manner in 1/60 second, and outputs the signals to the A / D converter 3 via the CDS circuit 33.
4

The A / D converter 34 digitizes the image signal and supplies the digitized image data to the first switching circuit 35 and the still image processing circuit 41.

The first switching circuit 35 comprises a switch 35a for switching input image data to a terminal a or a terminal b. The switch 35a is an A / D converter 34
The terminal is switched to a terminal a when the odd-numbered line of imaging data is supplied, and is switched to a terminal b when the even-numbered line is supplied. That is, the switch 35a is
It is switched every 1/2 horizontal scanning cycle.

The second switching circuit 36 includes a terminal x connected to the terminal a, a terminal y connected to the terminal b, and a vertical scanning cycle (1/60 second) connected to the terminal x or the terminal y.
And a switch 36a for switching the image data every time and supplying the image data to the FIFO memory 37. By the switching operation of the switch 36a, the imaging data of the odd field is output from the terminal a, and the imaging data of the even field is output from the terminal b.

The FIFO memory 37 comprises a line memory, and stores the image data of the odd or even field written from the second switching circuit 36. Such image data is read out in synchronization with one normal horizontal scanning period, and supplied to the digital signal processing circuit 38. Therefore,
The double-speed image data of the progressive system is supplied to a first switching circuit 35, a second switching circuit 36, and a FIFO memory 37.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the data is output as interlaced image data.

The digital signal processing circuit 38 has a FIFO
The image data from the memory 37 is subjected to predetermined signal processing and supplied to a liquid crystal display panel (not shown). Thus, the user can confirm the position of the subject to be photographed while looking at the liquid crystal display panel.

When the user presses the recording button 40, the digital signal processing circuit 38 starts the process of writing the signal-processed image data to the recording medium 39. As a result, the moving image is recorded on the recording medium 39.

When the user presses the still image button 42, the still image processing circuit 41
The acquisition of the image pickup data from Step 4 is started. In addition, the still image processing circuit 41 may capture only one image data, or may capture several image data as needed. Since the still image captured by the still image processing circuit 41 is progressive imaging data captured in 1/60 second, there is no blur at all, and the still image is compared with the one obtained by synthesizing the imaging data of the odd field and the even field. And the image quality is good.

Then, the still image processing circuit 41 stores the image data of the fetched still image and supplies it to, for example, the liquid crystal display panel. This allows the user to check the captured still image. Further, the still image processing circuit 41 may store the image data, and may perform a writing process on the recording medium 39 after the recording of the moving image is completed, for example, or the recording medium 39 on which the moving image is recorded. May be recorded on a different recording medium.

As described above, the video camera device 30
Converts a progressive image signal generated by the CCD image sensor 32 into an interlaced image at the time of capturing a moving image and records the interlaced image signal. By capturing the imaging signal as it is, a high-quality still image can be captured without affecting the shooting of a moving image.

[0039]

As described above in detail, according to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, a timing signal for outputting an interlaced imaging signal is generated, a moving image is captured, and a still image is captured. When a predetermined input operation is performed on the operation means, a timing signal for outputting a progressive imaging signal is generated for a predetermined period, and the progressive imaging signal is stored, thereby capturing a moving image. Still images with good image quality can also be taken.

In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the imaging means outputs a progressive imaging signal, converts the imaging signal from the imaging means into an interlaced imaging signal,
By storing the imaging signal from the imaging unit as a still image when an input operation of a timing for capturing a still image is performed on the operation unit, it is possible to capture a still image with good image quality while capturing a moving image. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a video camera device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an interlaced or progressive imaging signal output by a CCD image sensor of the video camera device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the image quality of a still image captured by the video camera device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a video camera device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an interlaced or progressive imaging signal output by a CCD image sensor of the video camera device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the image quality of a still image captured by a conventional imaging device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Claims (3)

[Claims] An imaging unit that outputs an imaging signal generated by imaging light from a subject in an interlaced mode or a progressive mode based on a timing signal; an operation unit that performs an input operation of a timing for capturing a still image; A timing signal generating means for generating a timing signal for the imaging means to output an interlaced or progressive imaging signal; and a storage means for storing a still image, wherein the timing signal generating means includes an interlaced imaging signal. Generating a timing signal for outputting a progressive imaging signal for a predetermined period when the input operation is performed on the operation means, wherein the storage means comprises: To store progressive imaging signals output from Imaging device, characterized in that. 2. An imaging unit for generating a progressive imaging signal based on imaging light from a subject, a signal conversion unit for converting an imaging signal from the imaging unit into an interlaced imaging signal, and capturing a still image. An imaging apparatus comprising: an operation unit for performing a timing input operation; and a storage unit for storing an image signal from the imaging unit as a still image when the input operation is performed on the operation unit. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the signal conversion means switches and outputs a progressive odd or even line image pickup signal from the image pickup means for each one-field period. .