Image pickup device for changing a resolution of frames and generating a static image based on information indicating the frames

• US 7,782,362 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Oshima, Mitsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/561,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20070098381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,261 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.6, 348/240.2
• US Class Current: 348/208.6
• 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 23/6815 by distinguishing pan or tilt from motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/683 performed by a processor, e.g. controlling the readout of an image memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6842 by controlling the scanning position, e.g. windowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/713 Transfer or readout registers; Split readout registers or multiple readout registers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/1575 Picture signal readout register, e.g. shift registers, interline shift registers

Abstract

The image pickup apparatus of the present invention is for taking a static image during a predetermined exposure period. The image pickup apparatus includes: a shaking motion detecting section for detecting an amount of shaking motion between a plurality of frames representing the static image; a shaking motion correcting section for correcting a plurality of frame information indicating the plurality of frames in accordance with the detected amount of the shaking motion; a storage section for storing the plurality of frame information subjected, to the correction of the shaking motion; and an information generating section for generating static image information indicating the static image based on the plurality of frame information stored in the storage section.

Claims

1. An image generating apparatus comprising:

a storage section for storing a plurality of frame information;

an information generating section for generating static image information indicating a static image based on the plurality of frame information stored in the storage section, wherein the plurality of frame information is information indicating a plurality of frames representing a static image taken during a predetermined exposure period, and the information has been corrected by setting a number of virtual pixels included in each of the plurality of frames to be larger than a number of actual pixels included in an image pickup plane of an image pickup element in accordance with an amount of shaking motion between the plurality of frames, and wherein the number of virtual pixels is set based on a ratio of a predetermined actual pixel size to the amount of shaking motion between the plurality of frames; and

a resolution changing section for changing a set resolution of the plurality of frames in accordance with the amount of shaking motion, wherein the set resolution is reduced to a predetermined resolution, after which, a frame rate for taking the plurality of frames is increased.

2. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information generating section generates the static image information by simultaneously calculating the plurality of frame information stored in the storage section.

3. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information generating section generates the static image information by sequentially calculating each of the plurality of frame information stored in the storage section.

4. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of frame information are generated based on a summation of information indicating a plurality of actual pixels included in the image pickup plane of the image pickup element in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.

5. An image pickup apparatus for taking a static image during a predetermined exposure period, comprising:

a shaking motion detecting section for detecting an amount of shaking motion between a plurality of frames representing the static image;

a shaking motion correcting section for correcting a plurality of frame information indicating the plurality of frames by setting a number of virtual pixels included in each of the plurality of frames to be larger than a number of actual pixels included in an image pickup plane of an image pickup element in accordance with the detected amount of the shaking motion,

wherein the number of virtual pixels is set based on a ratio of a predetermined actual pixel size to the amount of shaking motion between the plurality of frames;

a storage section for storing the plurality of frame information subjected to the correction of the shaking motion;

an information generating section for generating static image information indicating the static image based on the plurality of frame information stored in the storage section; and

a resolution changing section for changing a set resolution of the plurality of frames in accordance with the amount of shaking motion,

wherein the set resolution is reduced to a predetermined resolution, after which, a frame rate for taking the plurality of frames is increased.

6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information generating section generates the static image information by simultaneously calculating the plurality of frame information stored in the storage section.

7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information generating section generates the static image information by sequentially calculating each of the plurality of frame information stored in the storage section.

8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a frame rate changing section for changing the frame rate in accordance with the amount of the shaking motion, wherein the frame rate indicates the number of the plurality of frames representing the static image taken per unit time.

9. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the resolution changing section for changing a resolution of the plurality of frames in accordance with a brightness.

10. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the resolution changing section for changing a resolution of the plurality of frames in accordance with a zoom ratio.

11. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the shaking motion detecting section detects the amount of the shaking motion based on a summation of information indicating a plurality of pixels included in the image pickup plane of the image pickup element, and the shaking motion correcting section corrects the plurality of frame information by cutting out a part of the plurality of frame information in accordance with the amount of the shaking motion.

12. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the shaking motion detecting section detects the amount of the shaking motion based not on information generated based on a plurality of pixels included in the image pickup plane of the image pickup element.

13. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a determining section for determining whether or not the predetermined exposure time is greater than a predetermined value, and

wherein, when it is determined that the predetermined exposure time is greater than the predetermined value, the shaking motion detecting section detects the amount of the shaking motion based on a summation of information indicating a plurality of pixels included in the image pickup plane of the image pickup element.

14. An image pickup method for taking a static image during a predetermined exposure period, comprising the steps of:

detecting an amount of shaking motion between a plurality of frames representing the static image;

changing a set resolution of the plurality of frames in accordance with the amount of shaking motion;

reducing the set resolution to a predetermined resolution, after which, increasing a frame rate for taking the plurality of frames;

correcting a plurality of frame information indicating the plurality of frames by setting a number of virtual pixels included in each of the plurality of frames to be larger than a number of actual pixels included in an image pickup plane of an image pickup element in accordance with the detected amount of the shaking motion,

wherein the number of virtual pixels is set based on a ratio of a predetermined actual pixel size to the amount of shaking motion between the plurality of frames;

storing the plurality of frame information subjected to the correction of the shaking motion; and

generating static image information indicating the static image based on the plurality of frame information stored in the storage section.