Imaging Device, Imaging System and Photography Method of Image

• US 20070296829A1
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Tomoyuki, Yano, Takahiro, Okutomi, Masatoshi, Shimizu, Masao
• Application Number:
  US11/667,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296829A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/229.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2625 for obtaining an image which is composed of images from a temporal image sequence, e.g. for a stroboscopic effect sequence generated by event triggered capturing H04N7/188

Abstract

The invention provides an imaging device, an imaging system and an image photography method which can construct an image having a higher resolution than a photographed image. The imaging device is constituted by an optical imaging unit 11 (an optical imaging means for imaging an image of a subject), an imaging unit 12 (a means for converting an image imaged optically into an image signal that is discretized spatially and is sampled), an image processing unit 15 (a means for generating a high-resolution image from image signals of multiple frames), a moving velocity detecting unit 13 (a means for detecting a status change of the imaging device itself), and an imaging timing deciding unit 14 (a means for deciding a imaging timing). The imaging device is constituted such as to construct the high-resolution image from an imaging element with a little number of the pixels.

Claims

1. An imaging device which obtains an image of a subject electronically, comprising:

an optical imaging means for imaging said image of said subject;

an imaging means for converting an image imaged optically into an image signal that is discretized spatially and is sampled;

a high-resolution processing means for generating a high-resolution image from image signals of multiple frames sampled by said imaging means;

a status change detecting means for detecting a status change of said imaging device itself; and

an imaging timing deciding means for deciding an imaging timing,

wherein said imaging timing deciding means takes into consideration said status change of said imaging device itself detected by said status change detecting means, and decides said imaging timing for obtaining image signals of suitable frames for generating said high-resolution image by said high-resolution processing means.

3. An imaging device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said status change is a velocity.

4. An imaging device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said status change is an acceleration.

5. An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the imaging is performed at a time when said velocity is 0.

13. An imaging device according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 7, wherein said high-resolution processing means comprises a function that determines whether it is possible to construct a high-resolution image with a desired enlarging magnification or not, and informs a photographer.

2. An imaging device which obtains an image of a subject electronically, comprising:

an optical imaging means for imaging said image of said subject;

an imaging element for converting an image imaged optically into an image signal that is discretized spatially and is sampled;

a high-resolution processing means for generating a high-resolution image from image signals of multiple frames sampled by said imaging element;

an imaging timing deciding means for deciding an imaging timing;

a means for giving a spatial displacement to said imaging element; and

a means for detecting a status change of said imaging element;

wherein said imaging timing deciding means takes into consideration said status change of said imaging element detected by said means for detecting a status change of said imaging element, and decides said imaging timing for obtaining image signals of suitable frames for generating said high-resolution image by said high-resolution processing means.

6. An imaging device according to claim 2, wherein said imaging element is given a displacement in one linear direction that is approximately vertical to an optical axis.

11. An imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, further comprising a means for measuring amount of displacement of said imaging element.

12. An imaging device according to claims 2 or 7, wherein said means for giving a spatial displacement is an elastic member.

7. An imaging device which obtains an image of a subject electronically, comprising:

an optical imaging means for imaging said image of said subject;

an imaging element for converting an image imaged optically into an image signal that is discretized spatially and is sampled;

a high-resolution processing means for generating a high-resolution image from image signals of multiple frames sampled by said imaging element;

an imaging timing deciding means for deciding an imaging timing;

a means for giving a spatial displacement to said imaging element;

a means for giving a spatial displacement in the same direction as said imaging element and in a different status from said imaging element to said optical imaging means; and

a relative change detecting means for detecting a relative change between said imaging element and said optical imaging means,

wherein said imaging timing deciding means takes into consideration said relative change detected by said relative change detecting means, and decides said imaging timing for obtaining image signals of suitable frames for generating said high-resolution image by said high-resolution processing means.

8. An imaging device according to claim 7, wherein said relative change is a relative velocity, and the imaging is performed at a time when said relative velocity is 0.

9. An imaging device according to claim 7, wherein said relative change is a relative acceleration.

10. An imaging device according to claim 7, wherein said imaging element and said optical imaging means are given a displacement in one linear direction that is approximately vertical to an optical axis.

14. An imaging system comprising:

an imaging device having an optical imaging means for imaging said image of said subject, an imaging means for converting an image imaged optically into an image signal that is discretized spatially and is sampled, a high-resolution processing means for generating a high-resolution image from image signals of multiple frames sampled by said imaging means, a status change detecting means for detecting a status change of said imaging device itself, and an imaging timing deciding means for deciding an imaging timing;

an imaging device moving means for giving a displacement to said imaging device; and

a fixing means for holding or supporting said imaging device and said imaging device moving means,

wherein said imaging timing deciding means takes into consideration said status change of said imaging device itself detected by said status change detecting means, and decides said imaging timing for obtaining image signals of suitable frames for generating said high-resolution image by said high-resolution processing means.

18. An imaging system according to claims 14 or 15, wherein said status change is a velocity or an acceleration.

20. An imaging system according to claim 14, wherein said imaging device is given a displacement in one linear direction that is approximately vertical to an optical axis.

21. An imaging system according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein said means for giving a spatial displacement is an elastic member.

22. An imaging system according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein said high-resolution processing means comprises a function that determines whether it is possible to construct a high-resolution image with a desired enlarging magnification or not, and informs a photographer.

15. An imaging system comprising:

an imaging device having an optical imaging means for imaging said image of said subject, an imaging element for converting an image imaged optically into an image signal that is discretized spatially and is sampled, a high-resolution processing means for generating a high-resolution image from image signals of multiple frames sampled by said imaging element, an imaging timing deciding means for deciding an imaging timing, a means for giving a spatial displacement to said imaging element, and a means for detecting a status change of said imaging element; and

a fixing means for holding or supporting said imaging device,

wherein said imaging timing deciding means takes into consideration said status change of said imaging element detected by said means for detecting a status change of said imaging element, and decides said imaging timing for obtaining image signals of suitable frames for generating said high-resolution image by said high-resolution processing means.

16. An imaging system comprising:

an imaging device having an optical imaging means for imaging said image of said subject, an imaging element for converting an image imaged optically into an image signal that is discretized spatially and is sampled, a high-resolution processing means for generating a high-resolution image from image signals of multiple frames sampled by said imaging element, an imaging timing deciding means for deciding an imaging timing, a means for giving a spatial displacement to said imaging element, a means for giving a spatial displacement in the same direction as said imaging element and in a different status from said imaging element to said optical imaging means, and a relative change detecting means for detecting a relative change between said imaging element and said optical imaging means; and

a fixing means for holding or supporting said imaging device,

wherein said imaging timing deciding means takes into consideration said relative change detected by said relative change detecting means, and decides said imaging timing for obtaining image signals of suitable frames for generating said high-resolution image by said high-resolution processing means.

19. An imaging system according to claims 16 or 17, wherein said relative change is a relative velocity or a relative acceleration.

17. An imaging system comprising:

an imaging device having an optical imaging means for imaging said image of said subject, an imaging element for converting an image imaged optically into an image signal that is discretized spatially and is sampled, a high-resolution processing means for generating a high-resolution image from image signals of multiple frames sampled by said imaging element, an imaging timing deciding means for deciding an imaging timing, a means for giving a spatial displacement to said imaging element, a means for giving a spatial displacement in the same direction as said imaging element and in a different status from said imaging element to said optical imaging means, a relative change detecting means for detecting a relative change between said imaging element and said optical imaging means, and a means for measuring a spatial position of said imaging element when the imaging is performed; and

a fixing means for holding or supporting said imaging device,

wherein said imaging timing deciding means takes into consideration said relative change detected by said relative change detecting means, and decides said imaging timing for obtaining image signals of suitable frames for generating said high-resolution image by said high-resolution processing means.

23. A photography method of image which is based on a presupposition that a high-resolution image is constructed by using multiple images, comprising:

a step of detecting a status change of an imaging device itself; and

a step of deciding an imaging timing,

wherein said status change of said imaging device is considered and the imaging is performed at a suitable timing.

24. A photography method of image according to claim 23, further comprising:

a step of generating a signal that starts a series of processing about the imaging; and

a step of giving a displacement to said imaging device after having received said signal that starts a series of processing about the imaging.

25. A photography method of image according to claims 23 or 24, further comprising:

a step of giving a displacement in one linear direction that is approximately vertical to an optical axis to said imaging device.

33. A photography method of image according to any one of claims 23, 26, 28 or 29, further comprising:

a step of determining whether it is possible to construct a high-resolution image or not, and informing a photographer.

26. A photography method of image which is based on a presupposition that a high-resolution image is constructed by using multiple images, comprising:

a step of generating a signal that starts a series of processing about the imaging;

a step of giving a spatial displacement to an imaging element after having received said signal that starts a series of processing about the imaging;

a step of detecting a status change of said imaging element; and

a step of deciding an imaging timing,

wherein detected status change of said imaging element is considered and the imaging is performed at a suitable timing.

27. A photography method of image according to claim 26, further comprising:

a step of giving a displacement in one linear direction that is approximately vertical to an optical axis to said imaging element.

32. A photography method of image according to any one of claims 26, 28 or 29, further comprising:

a step of measuring amount of displacement of said imaging element.

28. A photography method of image which is based on a presupposition that a high-resolution image is constructed by using multiple images, comprising:

a step of generating a signal that starts a series of processing about the imaging;

a step of giving a spatial displacement to an imaging element and giving a spatial displacement in the same direction as said imaging element and in a different status from said imaging element to a part or a whole of an imaging optical system after having received said signal that starts a series of processing about the imaging;

a step of detecting a relative change between said imaging element and said imaging optical system; and

a step of deciding an imaging timing,

wherein said relative change between said imaging element and said imaging optical system is considered and the imaging is performed at a suitable timing.

30. A photography method of image according to claims 28 or 29, further comprising:

a step of giving a displacement in one linear direction that is approximately vertical to an optical axis to said imaging element and a part or a whole of said imaging optical system.

31. A photography method of image according to claims 28 or 29, said step of detecting a relative change between said imaging element and said imaging optical system is a step of detecting an acceleration.

29. A photography method of image which is based on a presupposition that a high-resolution image is constructed by using multiple images, comprising:

a step of generating a signal that starts a series of processing about the imaging;

a step of giving a spatial displacement to an imaging element;

a step of giving a spatial displacement in the same direction as said imaging element and in a different status from said imaging element to a part or a whole of an imaging optical system;

a step of detecting a relative change between said imaging element and said imaging optical system;

a step of deciding an imaging timing; and

a step of measuring a spatial position of said imaging element when the imaging is performed,

wherein the imaging is performed at a time when said relative change between said imaging element and said imaging optical system becomes smaller than a constant value.