Imaging device, method of processing captured image signal and computer program

• US 20080284866A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evryx Acquisition LLC
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mizutani, Tomoyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,889,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2145 of a sequence of images for selection of a single frame before final recording, e.g. from a continuous sequence captured before and after shutter-release
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/215 Recording a sequence of still pictures, e.g. burst mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/212 Selecting different recording or reproducing modes, e.g. high or low resolution, field or frame
• 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 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 Television signal processing therefor

Abstract

A constant amount of new portion of image data as still images is always stored on a memory in an image taking operation. In response to a shutter release operation, the image data stored on the memory is recorded onto a recording medium. A next new portion of the image data generated subsequent to the shutter release operation is then recorded on the recording medium. A predetermined pixel count, smaller than a standard pixel count set in the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, is set in the image data prior to the shutter release operation. Process time for multi-shot operation is shortened in order to prevent photo opportunity missing. The pixel count in the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation remains unchanged so that the image data of high image quality is acquired.

Claims

1. An imaging device, comprising:

image signal acquisition means for acquiring an image signal in an electrical form by converting input image-bearing light into the image signal;

data generation means for generating successively image data containing a still image by inputting successively the image signal corresponding to one still image unit;

data storage control means for storing, on a predetermined memory thereof, the image data generated by the data generation means, the image data acquired in retrospect within a unit time before a current time point;

record control means for recording, on a recording medium, the image data prior to a shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, the shutter release operation being performed to acquire the image data in response to an operation timing and to store the acquired image data onto the recording medium, the image data prior to the shutter release operation being stored on the data storage control means at the timing of the shutter release operation, and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation being generated during a predetermined period of time extending from the timing of the shutter release operation to a later time point;

operation means for performing an operation to modify a pixel count of the image data on one of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, the image data containing a two-dimensional set of pixels; and

pixel count setting control means for controlling setting of the pixel count so that the pixel count of one of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation specified in the operation performed by the operation means reaches the pixel count specified in the operation of the operation means and so that the pixel count of the other of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation reaches a predetermined pixel count set as a standard value.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the operation means performs the operation to modify a pixel count of the image data prior to the shutter release operation, and

wherein if the pixel count specified in the operation of the operation means is different from the pixel count of the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, the pixel count setting control means controls setting of the pixel count so that the pixel count of the image data prior to the shutter release operation reaches the pixel count set by the operation means and so that the pixel count of the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation reaches the predetermined pixel count set as the standard value.

3. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the pixel count setting control means controls setting of the pixel count so that each of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation reaches the predetermined pixel count set as the standard value if the pixel count set in the operation of the operation means is the same as the pixel count of the index data subsequent to the shutter release operation.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel count setting control means specifies, in the control operation thereof to form a predetermined pixel count in the image data, a pixel count as the pixel count to be used to acquire a valid image signal in an image sensor forming the image signal acquisition means.

5. An image signal processing method, comprising steps of:

acquiring an image signal in an electrical form by converting input image-bearing light into the image signal;

generating successively image data containing a still image by inputting successively the image signal corresponding to one still image unit;

storing, on a predetermined memory, the generated image data, the image data acquired in retrospect within a unit time before a current time point;

recording, on a recording medium, the image data prior to a shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, the shutter release operation being performed to acquire the image data in response to an operation timing and to store the acquired image data onto the recording medium, the image data prior to the shutter release operation being stored at the timing of the shutter release operation, and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation being generated during a predetermined period of time extending from the timing of the shutter release operation to a later time point;

storing setting information relating to the pixel count modified in response to a modification operation of the pixel count of the image data performed on one of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, the image data containing a two-dimensional set of pixels; and

controlling setting of the pixel count so that the pixel count of one of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, modified in the modification operation, reaches the pixel count specified in the setting information and so that the pixel count of the other of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, unmodified in the modification operation, reaches a predetermined pixel count set as a standard value.

6. A computer program for an imaging device, the computer program comprising steps of:

generating successively image data containing a still image by inputting successively an image signal in an electrical form corresponding to one still image unit, the image signal converted from input image-bearing light;

storing, on a predetermined memory, the generated image data, the image data acquired in retrospect within a unit time before a current time point;

recording, on a recording medium, the image data prior to a shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, the shutter release operation being performed to acquire the image data in response to an operation timing and to store the acquired image data onto the recording medium, the image data prior to the shutter release operation being stored at the timing of the shutter release operation, and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation being generated during a predetermined period of time extending from the timing of the shutter release operation to a later time point;

storing setting information relating to the pixel count modified in response to a modification operation of the pixel count of the image data performed on one of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, the image data containing a two-dimensional set of pixels; and

controlling setting of the pixel count so that the pixel count of one of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, modified in the modification operation, reaches the pixel count specified in the setting information and so that the pixel count of the other of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, unmodified in the modification operation, reaches a predetermined pixel count set as a standard value.

7. An imaging device, comprising:

an image signal acquisition unit acquiring an image signal in an electrical form by converting input image-bearing light into the image signal;

a data generation unit generating successively image data containing a still image by inputting successively the image signal corresponding to one still image unit;

a data storage control unit storing, on a predetermined memory thereof, the image data generated by the data generation unit, the image data acquired in retrospect within a unit time before a current time point;

a record control unit recording, on a recording medium, the image data prior to a shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, the shutter release operation being performed to acquire the image data in response to an operation timing and to store the acquired image data onto the recording medium, the image data prior to the shutter release operation being stored on the data storage control unit at the timing of the shutter release operation, and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation being generated during a predetermined period of time extending from the timing of the shutter release operation to a later time point;

an operation unit performing an operation to modify a pixel count of the image data on one of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, the image data containing a two-dimensional set of pixels; and

a pixel count setting control unit controlling setting of the pixel count so that the pixel count of one of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation specified in the operation performed by the operation unit reaches the pixel count specified in the operation of the operation unit and so that the pixel count of the other of the image data prior to the shutter release operation and the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation reaches a predetermined pixel count set as a standard value.