Imaging device having a blur-correction function

• US 7,760,237 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Usui, Kazutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jerabek; Kelly L
• Application Number:
  US11/191,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.99, 348/208.2, 348/208.4, 348/208.6, 348/208.11, 348/208.13, 396/52, 396/55, 359/554
• US Class Current: 348/208.99
• 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 23/682 Vibration or motion blur correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time

Abstract

An imaging device according to the present invention includes: an image-capturing optical system forming an image of a subject on a surface of an image sensor; a blur-detecting unit detecting a blur of an optical axis in the image-capturing optical system; an image-capturing unit which divides a total exposure time by a predetermined dividing number to repeat image capturing, and generates a number of images corresponding to the dividing number; and a composing unit which finds a motion vector based on the images in the dividing number generated by the image-capturing unit and on the blur detected by the blur-detecting unit and composes the generated images in the dividing number based on the motion vector. Therefore, it is possible to precisely correct a blur while shortening the time required for the blur correction.

Claims

1. An imaging device comprising:

a blur-detecting unit which detects a blur of a device;

a decision unit which decides whether a value indicating an exposure time is larger than a reciprocal of a value indicating a focal length of an image-capturing optical system forming an image of a subject of a surface of an image sensor;

an image-capturing unit which obtains a number of images by dividing said exposure time by a predetermined dividing number and repeats image capturing to generate a plurality of images according to the number of images, when said decision unit decides that the value indicating said total exposure time is larger than the reciprocal of the value indicating the focal length of said image-capturing optical system; and

a composing unit which finds a motion vector according to the plurality of images generated by said image-capturing unit and to said blur detected by said blur-detecting unit, and composes the generated plurality of images according to said motion vector.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a setting unit which sets a divided exposure time of each of the plurality of images so that an exposure of an image obtained by composing the plurality of images corresponds to a properly exposed image.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

said composing unit sets a scan range on said plurality of generated images based on said blur detected by said blur-detecting unit, and finds said motion vector by performing block matching of said plurality of images within said scan range.

4. The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein

said composing unit changes a size of said scan range according to a time interval with which said image-capturing unit repeats the image capturing.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

said blur-detecting unit detects a blur of an optical axis in said image-capturing optical system.

6. An imaging device, comprising:

a blur-detecting unit which detects a blur of a device;

an image-capturing unit which obtains a divided exposure time by dividing an exposure time by a predetermined dividing number, and repeats image capturing using the divided exposure time, to generate a plurality of underexposed images; and

a composing unit which finds a motion vector based on said plurality of underexposed images generated by said image-capturing unit and on said blur detected by said blur-detecting unit, and obtains a proper image having a proper exposure by composing said plurality of underexposed images according to said motion vector, wherein

said image-capturing unit divides said exposure time by said predetermined dividing number when a value indicating said exposure time is larger than a reciprocal of a value indicating a focal length of an image-capturing optical system forming an image of a subject on a surface of an image sensor.

7. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein

said image-capturing unit decides said predetermined number based on said value indicating the focal length and on said exposure time.

8. An imaging device, comprising;

a blur-detecting unit which detects a blur of a device;

an image-capturing unit which divides an exposure time by a predetermined dividing number to obtain a divided exposure time used to repeat image capturing and generate a plurality of images; and

a composing unit which sets at least one detection area on said plurality of images based on said blur detected by said blur-detecting unit, finds a motion vector by performing image matching within said detection area, and composes said plurality of images according to said motion vector, wherein

said composing unit decides a dimension of said detection area based on a time interval with which said image-capturing unit repeats the image capturing.

9. The imaging device according to claim 8, wherein

said composing unit makes said dimension of said detection area larger as said time interval becomes longer.

10. An imaging method, comprising:

detecting a blur of a device;

deciding whether a value indicating an exposure time is larger than a reciprocal of a value indicating a focal length of an image-capturing optical system forming an image of a subject on a surface of an image sensor;

dividing said exposure time by a predetermined dividing number to determine a number of images, and repeating image capturing the number of images times, to generate a plurality of images, when the deciding determined that said exposure time is larger than the reciprocal of the value indicating the focal length of said image-capturing optical system; and

finding a motion vector based on the plurality of images and on said blur, and composing said plurality of images according to said motion vector.

11. The imaging method according to claim 10, further comprising:

setting a scan range on said plurality of generated images based on said blur, wherein the finding of said motion vector is achieved by performing block matching of said plurality of images within said scan range.

12. An imaging method, comprising;

detecting a blur of a device;

obtaining a divided exposure time by dividing an exposure time by a predetermined dividing number, and repeating image capturing using the divided exposure time, to generate a plurality of underexposed images;

finding a motion vector based on said plurality of underexposed images and on said detected blur, and

obtaining a proper image having a proper exposure by composing said plurality of underexposed images according to said motion vector,

wherein said divided exposure time is obtained, when a value indicating said exposure time is larger than a reciprocal of a value indicating a focal length of an image-capturing optical system forming an image of a subject on a surface of an image sensor.

13. An imaging method comprising:

detecting a blur of a device;

dividing an exposure time by a predetermined dividing number to obtain a divided exposure time used to repeat image capturing using the divided exposure time, to generate a plurality of images;

selling at least one detection area on said plurality of images based on said blur, and finding a motion vector by performing image matching within said detection area;

composing said plurality of images according to said motion vector; and

deciding a dimension of said detection area based on a time interval at which said image capturing is repeated.

14. An imaging device, comprising:

an angular velocity sensor to detect a blur of a device and to output an angular velocity corresponding to said blur;

an image-capturing unit to divide an exposure time by a predetermined dividing number to obtain a divided exposure time, and to generate a plurality of images by repeating an image capturing using the divided exposure time; and

a composing unit to set at least one detection area on said plurality of images based on said angular velocity corresponding to said blur output from said angular velocity sensor, to find a motion vector by performing image matching within said at least one detection area, and to compose said plurality of images according to said motion vector, wherein

said composing unit determines a dimension of said at least one detection area based on a time interval at which the image capturing is repeated.

15. An imaging method, comprising:

detecting an angular velocity corresponding to a blur of an imaging device, by an angular velocity sensor;

dividing an exposure time by a predetermined dividing number to obtain a divided exposure time;

repeatedly performing an image capturing using the divided exposure time, to generate a plurality of images;

selling at least one detection area on said plurality of images based on said angular velocity;

performing an image matching within said detection area to determine a motion composing said plurality of images according to said motion vector;

composing said plurality of images according to said motion vector; and

determining a dimension of said detection area based on a time interval at which said image capturing is repeated.