IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND LENS BARREL

• US 20080204565A1
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yumiki, Naoto
• Granted Patent: US 8,228,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/684 performed by controlling the image sensor readout, e.g. by controlling the integration time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/76 by influencing the image signals

Abstract

An imaging apparatus capable of preventing photographing sensitivity from being increased more than necessary, reducing image quality degradation caused by camera shake or object shake and easily photographing images in good image quality. Digital camera 1 includes image shake correcting selection 16 that corrects shake of an optical image of a photographing object formed by the imaging optical system L, digital signal amplification section 110 that amplifies an image signal with a gain set by digital signal gain setting section 111, face detection section 120 that detects a face of a fast-moving specific photographing object such as a child or pet, and motion detection section 100 that detects motion of the face of the specific photographing object based on an output of face detection section 120, wherein when a fast-moving specific photographing object such as a child or pet or the face of the specific photographing object is detected, microcomputer 3 increases the gain of a photographing sensitivity changing function compared with when no specific photographing object such as a child or pet is detected, increases ISO sensitivity, increases a shutter speed and shortens exposure time.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging optical system that forms an optical image of a photographing object;

an imaging sensor that receives the formed optical image, converts the optical image to an electrical image signal and outputs the image signal;

a specific photographing object detection section that detects a specific photographing object based on the image signal; and

a control section that takes, when the specific photographing object is detected, a photograph at a higher amplification factor of the image signal and in a shorter exposure time.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an object speed deciding section that that measures a motion of the optical image of the photographing object at a predetermined time before a photograph is taken, and calculates an object speed of the photographing object,

wherein, when the calculated object speed is equal to or higher than a threshold, the control section performs photographing at the higher amplification factor of the image signal.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the calculated object speed is lower than the threshold and when the specific photographing object is detected, the control section performs photographing at the higher amplification factor of the image signal compared with if the object speed is lower than the threshold and when the specific photographing object has not been detected.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific photographing object is a child, pet or animal.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the specific photographing object detection section detects a face of the specific photographing object; and

when the face of the specific photographing object is detected, the control section performs photographing at the higher amplification factor of the image signal and in the short exposure time.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the specific photographing object detection section detects that the photographing object is a child; and

when the photographing object is detected to be the child, the control section performs photographing at the higher amplification factor of the image signal and in the shorter exposure time.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the specific photographing object detection section detects that the photographing object includes a child and an adult; and

when the photographing object is detected to be only the child, the control section performs photographing at the higher amplification factor of the image signal and in the shorter exposure time.

8. An imaging apparatus body used in combination with a lens barrel mounted with a camera shake correcting section that corrects shake of an optical image caused by motion of the imaging apparatus body, the imaging apparatus body comprising:

an imaging sensor that receives a formed optical image, converts the optical image to an electrical image signal and outputs the image signal;

a specific photographing object detection section that detects a specific photographing object based on the image signal; and

a control section that takes, when the specific photographing object is detected, a photograph at a higher amplification factor of the image signal and in a shorter exposure time.

9. A lens barrel used in combination with an imaging apparatus body, the imaging apparatus body comprising:

an imaging optical system that forms an optical image of a photographing object;

an imaging sensor that receives the formed optical image, converts the optical image to an electrical image signal and outputs the image signal;

a specific photographing object detection section that detects a specific photographing object based on the image signal; and

a control section that takes, when the specific photographing object is detected, a photograph at a higher amplification factor of the image signal and in a shorter exposure time,

the lens barrel comprising;

a camera shake correcting section that corrects shake of the optical image caused by motion of the imaging apparatus body; and

an interface between the camera shake correcting section and the control section of the imaging apparatus body.