Imaging apparatus, data extraction method, and data extraction program

• US 20070058957A1
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Hosoda, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/55
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

When a camera shake correction function is set to “on”, a control unit exposes a CCD. Simultaneously during the exposure, the control unit generates a CCD drive signal for changing relative positions of the CCD and a lens in accordance with a shake detection signal received from a pose sensor. In response to this signal, the position of the CCD is shifted in X and Y directions perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, thereby camera shake correction is performed. Next, the control unit outputs an imaging signal obtained by using the inside of a use range for camera shake correction within the CCD. On the other hand, when the camera shake correction function is set to “off”, the control unit exposes the CCD while the CCD is fixed at a center position. The control unit outputs an imaging signal obtained by using the entire area of the CCD.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an imaging element which opto-electrically converts an image formed by an optical system and outputs an imaging signal;

a shake detection unit which detects a shake of the apparatus and outputs a shake detection signal;

a shake correction unit which performs shake correction (camera shake correction) by changing relative positions of the imaging element and the optical system based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit;

a shake correction necessity determining unit which determines whether or not shake correction should be performed by the shake correction unit; and

a control unit which processes an imaging signal read out from a predefined first specific area of the imaging element in a case where the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that shake correction is to be performed, and which processes an imaging signal read out from a second specific area of the imaging element that is larger than the first specific area and includes the first specific area in a case where the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that shake correction is not to be performed.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising

an imaging signal process unit which processes an imaging signal read out from the imaging element,

wherein the control unit includes a unit which controls the imaging signal process unit to process an imaging signal read out from the predefined first specific area of the imaging element in a case where the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that shake correction is to be performed, and controls the imaging signal process unit to process an imaging signal read out from the second specific area of the imaging element larger than the first specific area and including the first specific area in a case where the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that shake correction is not to be performed.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the imaging signal process unit includes an imaging signal display process unit which performs process for displaying an imaging signal read out from the imaging element.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the imaging signal process unit includes an imaging signal recording process unit which performs process for recording an imaging signal read out from the imaging element.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising

a reading range switching unit which switches reading ranges of the imaging element from which an imaging signal is read out,

wherein the control unit includes a unit which controls the reading range switching unit such that an imaging signal is read out from the predefined first specific area of the imaging element in a case where the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that shake correction is to be performed, and controls the reading range switching unit such that an imaging signal is read out from the second specific area of the imaging element larger than the first specific area and including the first specific area in a case where the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that shake correction is not to be performed.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first specific area has its center position coincide with that of an entire area of the imaging element, and the second specific area is the entire area of the imaging element.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising

a shooting condition obtaining unit which obtains a predetermined shooting condition,

wherein the shake correction necessity determining unit determines whether or not it is necessary to perform shake correction based on the shooting condition obtained by the shooting condition obtaining unit.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the predetermined shooting condition includes a zooming magnification.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the predetermined shooting condition includes a shutter speed.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising

a shooting condition obtaining unit which obtains a predetermined shooting condition,

wherein the control unit includes a unit which changes the first specific area of the imaging element based on the shooting condition obtained by the shooting condition obtaining unit, in a case where the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that shake correction is to be performed.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the predetermined shooting condition includes a zooming magnification.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the predetermined shooting condition includes a shutter speed.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the shake correction unit performs shake correction by moving the imaging element based on a shake detection signal from the shake detection unit.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 13, comprising

a move position obtaining unit which obtains a position of the imaging element

moved by shake correction based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit,

wherein the control unit includes a unit which changes the first specific area of the imaging element based on the position of the imaging element obtained by the move position obtaining unit, in a case where the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that shake correction is to be performed.

15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the shake correction unit performs shake correction by moving the optical system based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit.

16. The imaging apparatus according to claim 15, comprising

a move position obtaining unit which obtains a position of the optical system moved by shake correction based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit,

wherein the control unit includes a unit which changes the first specific area of the imaging element based on the position of the optical system obtained by the move position obtaining unit, in a case where the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that shake correction is to be performed.

17. A data extraction method, involving use of:

an imaging element which opto-electrically converts an image formed by an optical system and outputs an imaging signal;

a shake detection unit which detects a shake of an apparatus housing the shake detection unit and outputs a shake detection signal; and

a shake correction unit which performs shake correction by changing relative positions of the imaging element and the optical system based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit, the method comprising;

a shake correction necessity determining step of determining whether or not shake correction should be performed by the shake correction unit; and

a controlling step of processing an imaging signal read out from a predefined first specific area of the imaging element in a case where it is determined at the shake correction necessity determining step that shake correction is to be performed, and processing an imaging signal read out from a second specific area of the imaging element that is larger than the first specific area and includes the first specific area in a case where it is determined that shake correction is not to be performed.

18. A computer-readable recording medium storing a data extraction program for a computer of an imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging element which opto-electrically converts an image formed by an optical system and outputs an imaging signal;

a shake detection unit which detects a shake of the apparatus and outputs a shake detection signal; and

a shake correction unit which performs shake correction by changing relative positions of the imaging element and the optical system based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit, the program controlling the computer to perform;

a function of determining whether or not shake correction should be performed by the shake correction unit; and

a controlling function of processing an imaging signal read out from a predefined first specific area of the imaging element in a case where it is determined by the determining function that shake correction is to be performed, and processing an imaging signal read out from a second specific area of the imaging element that is larger than the first specific area and includes the first specific area in a case where it is determined that shake correction is not to be performed.