Image capturing sensor and image capturing apparatus

• US 20050237422A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kido, Toshihito
• Application Number:
  US11/042,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20050237422A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/362
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/42 by switching between different modes of operation using different resolutions or aspect ratios, e.g. switching between interlaced and non-interlaced mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/445 by skipping some contiguous pixels within the read portion of the array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/70 SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/713 Transfer or readout registers; Split readout registers or multiple readout registers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/73 using interline transfer [IT]

Abstract

A plurality of pixels in a photoreception part of the image capturing sensor are divided into two groups: a first group for acquiring pixel signals for a motion picture, and a second group for acquiring the other pixel signals. A dedicated output system is disposed for each of the two groups, so that the pixel signals of the two groups can be outputted independently of each other. With the configuration, even when an instruction of acquiring a still picture is given during a period of capturing a motion picture, without being influenced by outputs of the second group, the pixel signals of the first group can be repeatedly outputted in predetermined time cycle.

Claims

1. An image capturing sensor comprising:

a plurality of pixels divided into two or more groups and acquiring pixel signals by exposure to light; and

an output part having two or more output systems corresponding to said two or more groups in a one-to-one corresponding manner, wherein

each of said two or more output systems outputs pixel signals acquired by the pixels of the corresponding group.

2. The image capturing sensor according to claim 1, wherein

said two or more groups include a first group for repeatedly acquiring a pixel signal used for generating a motion picture in predetermined time cycles.

3. The image capturing sensor according to claim 2, wherein

said two or more groups include a second group for acquiring a pixel signal used for generating a still picture in response to generation of a predetermined instruction signal.

4. The image capturing sensor according to claim 3, wherein

when said instruction signal is generated in the case where the pixels of said first group are repeatedly exposed in said predetermined time cycles, the pixels of said first group are continuously repeatedly exposed.

5. The image capturing sensor according to claim 4, wherein

when said instruction signal is generated in the case where the pixels of said first group are repeatedly exposed in said predetermined time cycles, the pixels of said second group are exposed at the same timing as that of the pixels of said first group.

6. The image capturing sensor according to claim 5, further comprising:

a picture processor for generating a still picture by combining pixel signals acquired by the pixels in said first group and pixel signals acquired by the pixels in said second group by the exposure of the same timing.

7. The image capturing sensor according to claim 3, further comprising:

a picture processor for generating a still picture by interpolation using the pixel signals acquired by the pixels in said second group.

8. An image capturing sensor comprising:

a plurality of pixels divided into two or more groups and acquiring pixel signals by exposure to light;

an output part for outputting pixel signals acquired by said plurality of pixels; and

a drive part for repeatedly driving said output part in predetermined process cycles, wherein

each of said process cycles is divided into two or more output periods for outputting the pixel signals acquired by said two or more groups from said output part.

9. The image capturing sensor according to claim 8, wherein

said two or more groups include a first group for repeatedly acquiring a pixel signal used for generating a motion picture in predetermined time cycles.

10. The image capturing sensor according to claim 9, wherein

said two or more groups include a second group for acquiring a pixel signal used for generating a still picture in response to generation of a predetermined instruction signal.

11. The image capturing sensor according to claim 10, wherein

when said instruction signal is generated in the case where the pixels of said first group are repeatedly exposed in said predetermined time cycles, the pixels of said first group are continuously repeatedly exposed.

12. The image capturing sensor according to claim 11, wherein

when said instruction signal is generated in the case where the pixels of said first group are repeatedly exposed in said predetermined time cycles, the pixels of said second group are exposed at the same timing as that of the pixels of said first group.

13. The image capturing sensor according to claim 12, further comprising:

a picture processor for generating a still picture by combining pixel signals acquired by the pixels in said first group and pixel signals acquired by the pixels in said second group by the exposure of the same timing.

14. The image capturing sensor according to claim 10, further comprising:

a picture processor for generating a still picture by interpolation using the pixel signals acquired by the pixels in said second group.

15. An image capturing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pixels divided into two or more groups for acquiring pictures of different properties, and acquiring pixel signals by exposure to light; and

an output part capable of outputting the pixel signals acquired by said two or more groups in parallel.

16. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

said two or more groups include a first group for repeatedly acquiring a pixel signal used for generating a motion picture in predetermined time cycles.

17. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

said two or more groups include a second group for acquiring a pixel signal used for generating a still picture in response to generation of a predetermined instruction signal.

18. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

when said instruction signal is generated in the case where the pixels of said first group are repeatedly exposed in said predetermined time cycles, the pixels of said first group are continuously repeatedly exposed.

19. The image capturing sensor according to claim 18, wherein

when said instruction signal is generated in the case where the pixels of said first group are repeatedly exposed in said predetermined time cycles, the pixels of said second group are exposed at the same timing as that of the pixels of said first group.

20. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a picture processor for generating a still picture by combining pixel signals acquired by the pixels in said first group and pixel signals acquired by the pixels in said second group by the exposure of the same timing.

21. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a picture processor for generating a still picture by interpolation using the pixel signals acquired by the pixels in said second group.

22. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

a recording controller for recording a still picture generated by said picture processor and a motion picture including the pixel signals acquired by the pixels in said first group as a part of said still picture so that said still picture and said motion picture are associated with each other.

23. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:

a display capable of displaying said still picture and said motion picture; and

a display controller, when said display displays said motion picture, for simultaneously displaying said still picture recorded so as to be associated with said motion picture onto said display.

24. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:

a display capable of displaying said still picture and said motion picture; and

a display controller, during playback display of said motion picture on said display, when playback time from start of playback display corresponds to relative image capture time which is from a start time point of capture of said motion picture to a time point of acquisition of a sill picture recorded so as to be associated with said motion picture, for displaying the fact that said playback time became equal to said relative image capture time onto said display.

25. An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing part capable of acquiring a still picture within a period of capturing a motion picture; and

a recording controller for recording a motion picture and a still picture which is acquired within the period of capturing said motion picture so as to be associated with each other.

26. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:

a display capable of displaying said still picture and said motion picture; and

a display controller, when said display displays said motion picture, for simultaneously displaying said still picture recorded so as to be associated with said motion picture onto said display.

27. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:

a display capable of displaying said still picture and said motion picture; and

a display controller, during playback display of said motion picture on said display, when playback time from start of playback display corresponds to relative. image capture time which is from a start time point of capture of said motion picture to a time point of acquisition of a sill picture recorded so as to be associated with said motion picture, for displaying the fact that said playback time became equal to said relative image capture time onto said display.