Image capturing apparatus capable of extracting a moving object

• US 7,295,237 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kusuda, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, TUAN H
• Application Number:
  US10/719,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20050012838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 348/297, 348/310, 348/222.1, 348/302, 348/308, 250/208.1, 250/214.1, 250/214.L
• US Class Current: 348/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/571 involving a non-linear response
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/573 the logarithmic type
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/155 Control of the image-sensor operation, e.g. image processing within the image-sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An image capturing apparatus comprises a solid image pickup element having pixels for outputting signals, which are logarithmically varied with respect to an incident light intensity, and a voltage controller. Each of the pixels includes an photoelectric conversion element, and a MOS transistor for logarithmic transformation, in which an output from the photoelectric conversion element is input into a drain. The voltage controller can apply, to a source, a reset voltage for resetting the transistor in such a manner that the photoelectric conversion element is operated in a moving object extraction image pickup mode. Furthermore, the voltage controller applies, to the source, the reset voltage for resetting the transistor to a level selected from a plurality of reset levels for moving object extraction image pickup.

Claims

1. An image capturing apparatus comprising:

a solid image pickup element including a photosensitive element and a transistor for logarithmic transformation, in which an output signal from the photosensitive element is input into a first electrode, for outputting a signal, which is logarithmically varied with respect to an incident light intensity to the photosensitive element; and

a voltage controller for controlling a voltage to be applied to a second electrode of the transistor,

wherein the voltage controller applies a first reset voltage to the second electrode, so as to reset the transistor in such a manner that the image capturing apparatus is operated in a state of moving object extraction image pickup, and

wherein the first reset voltage is a voltage for resetting the transistor in one reset level selected from a plurality of reset levels of the transistor.

2. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said voltage controller varies at least one of a voltage value and an applying time of the first reset voltage, so as to vary the reset level.

3. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detector for detecting the luminance of the object, wherein said voltage controller varies the reset level according to the object luminance detected by the detector.

4. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said voltage controller decreases the reset level as the object luminance detected by the detector is greater.

5. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said voltage controller decreases the reset level by decreasing a change quantity of the voltage value with respect to the first reset voltage.

6. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said voltage controller decreases the reset level by shortening an applying time of the first reset voltage.

7. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a calculator for determining a luminance range in which an image can be picked up in the moving object extraction image pickup state achieved at the reset level set at the preceding time,

wherein said voltage controller compares the luminance range calculated by said calculator with the object luminance detected by said detector, so as to vary the reset level based on the comparison result.

8. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said voltage controller further applies a second reset voltage to the second electrode, so as to reset the transistor to a normal image pickup state.

9. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a timer for counting a predetermined time after the start of the moving object extraction image pickup state,

wherein said voltage controller applies the second reset voltage to the second electrode in order to return to the normal image pickup state when the timer counts up the predetermined time.

10. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operating member for manually varying the reset level.

11. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of reset levels include two reset levels which are different double or more in upper limit of the object luminance, at which the moving object extraction image pickup is achieved.

12. An image capturing apparatus comprising:

a solid image pickup element including a photosensitive element and a transistor, in which an output signal from the photosensitive element is input into a first electrode, for outputting a signal; and

a voltage controller for controlling a voltage to be applied to a second electrode of the transistor,

wherein the voltage controller applies a first reset voltage to the second electrode, so as to reset the transistor in such a manner that the image capturing apparatus is operated in a state of moving object extraction image pickup, and

wherein a voltage change quantity in applying the first reset voltage is smaller than a half of a voltage change quantity required for resetting the transistor in such a manner that the image capturing apparatus is operated in a normal image pickup state.

13. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said voltage controller further applies a second reset voltage to the second electrode, so as to reset the transistor to a normal image pickup state.

14. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein solid image pickup element outputs the signal which is logarithmically varied with respect to an incident light intensity to the photosensitive element when the image capturing apparatus is operated in the normal image pickup state.

15. An image capturing apparatus comprising:

a solid image pickup element including a photosensitive element and a transistor, in which an output signal from the photosensitive element is input into a first electrode, for outputting a signal; and

a voltage controller for controlling a voltage to be applied to a second electrode of the transistor,

wherein the voltage controller applies a first reset voltage to the second electrode, so as to reset the transistor in such a manner that the image capturing apparatus is operated in a state of moving object extraction image pickup, and

wherein a period of time, during which the first reset voltage is applied, is shorter than a reset time required for resetting the transistor in such a manner that the image capturing apparatus is operated in a normal image pickup state.

16. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said voltage controller further applies a second reset voltage to the second electrode, so as to reset the transistor to a normal image pickup state.

17. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein solid image pickup element outputs the signal which is logarithmically varied with respect to an incident light intensity to the photosensitive element when the image capturing apparatus is operated in the normal image pickup state.

18. An adjusting method for an image capturing apparatus provided with a solid image pickup element having pixels, including a photosensitive element and a transistor for receiving an output signal from the photosensitive element and outputting a signal, comprises the steps of:

calculating a reset condition of the transistor in order to achieve a moving object extraction image pickup at a luminance higher than an upper limit value within an assumed object luminance range; and

resetting the transistor in the calculated reset condition.

19. An adjusting method according to claim 18, wherein said reset condition is reset voltage applied to said transistor.

20. An adjusting method according to claim 18, wherein said reset condition is an applying time of the reset voltage applied to said transistor.

21. An adjusting method according to claim 18, wherein solid image pickup element outputs the signal which is logarithmically varied with respect to an incident light intensity to the photosensitive element.