Image sensing apparatus and method of capable of merging function for obtaining high-precision image by synthesizing images and image stabilization function

• US 7,042,509 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Onuki, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US10/050,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 348/362, 348/363, 348/239, 348/364
• US Class Current: 348/362
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
• 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 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/48 Increasing resolution by shifting the sensor relative to the scene

Abstract

An image sensing apparatus, which performs pixel shifting operation for shifting an image formation position of an image on an image sensing device using a lens capable shifting a light path and senses images at respective image formation positions, has a vibration sensor for detecting vibration. The lens is moved so as to cancel the vibration detected by the vibration sensor when performing pixel shifting operation. Since the shifting characteristics of the lens slightly changes depending upon states of zooming and focusing lenses, the lens is moved by a shift amount which is adjusted in accordance with the states of the zooming and focusing lens.

Claims

1. An image sensing apparatus comprising:

image sensing means for converting an optical image into electric signals and outputting the electric signals as image signals;

photometry means for performing photometry on each of a plurality of divided areas of an image sensed by said image sensing means;

luminous exposure adjustment means for determining a plurality of luminous exposures to be used in said image sensing means on the basis of a photometry result obtained by said photometry means;

control means for controlling said image sensing means so as to sense an object a plurality of times using the plurality of luminous exposures determined by said luminous exposure adjustment means;

image signal synthesis means for synthesizing image signals of a plurality of images of the object outputted by said image sensing means to generate a single image; and

main object determination means for determining a divided area which includes a main object among the plurality of divided areas,

wherein said luminous exposure adjustment means controls said image sensing means to use a first luminous exposure which is suitable for the divided area including the main object, which is determined by said main object determination means, and to use at least one of second and third luminous exposures where the second luminous exposure is larger than the first luminous exposure and the third exposure is smaller than the first luminous exposure.

2. An image sensing apparatus comprising:

image sensing means for converting an optical image into electric signals and outputting the electric signals as image signals;

photometry means;

luminous exposure adjustment means for determining a plurality of luminous exposures to be used in said image sensing means on the basis of a photometry result obtained by said photometry means;

control means for controlling said image sensing means so as to sense an object a plurality of times using the plurality of luminous exposures determined by said luminous exposure adjustment means;

image signal synthesis means for synthesizing image signals of a plurality of images of the object outputted by said image sensing means to generate a single image; and

vibration detection means for detecting vibration of the image sensing apparatus,

wherein said luminous exposure adjustment means determines luminous exposures to be used on the basis of a detection result by said vibration detection means.

3. An image sensing apparatus comprising:

image sensing means for converting an optical image into electric signals and outputting the electric signals as image signals;

photometry means;

luminous exposure adjustment means for determining a plurality of luminous exposures to be used in said image sensing means on the basis of a photometry result obtained by said photometry means;

control means for controlling said image sensing means so as to sense an object a plurality of times using the plurality of luminous exposures determined by said luminous exposure adjustment means;

image signal synthesis means for synthesizing image signals of a plurality of images of the object outputted by said image sensing means to generate a single image; and

change-over means for changing between a plurality of image sensing modes which designates the number of image sensing operations to be performed for sensing an object by said image sensing means,

wherein said luminous exposure adjustment means determines luminous exposures to be used in accordance with the number of image sensing operations set by said change-over means.