Image pickup apparatus capable of controlling exposure during motion with high shutter speed, including amplification of a signal obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge, control method therefor, and storage medium

• US 9,224,766 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakata, Takamichi, Ohta, Seiya
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, THANH X
• Application Number:
  US13/742,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20130193309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.AG
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14601 Structural or functional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/72 Combination of two or more compensation controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time

Abstract

An image pickup apparatus which is capable of suppressing changes in luminance during motion with high shutter speed while minimizing image degradation. An image pickup device accumulates electric charge corresponding to an amount of light incident thereon. An amplification unit amplifies a signal obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge in the image pickup apparatus. A control unit controls an electric charge accumulation time period in the image pickup device. An adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor for the amplification unit. In a case where the control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period while the image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, the adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period, and after adjustment, the adjustment unit brings the adjusted amplification factor close to an amplification factor before adjustment in steps.

Claims

1. An image pickup apparatus comprising:

an image pickup device configured to accumulate electric charge corresponding to an amount of light incident on said image pickup device;

an amplification unit configured to amplify a signal obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge in said image pickup apparatus;

a control unit configured to control an electric charge accumulation time period in said image pickup device; and

an adjustment unit configured to adjust an amplification factor for said amplification unit,

wherein in a case where said control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period from an electric charge accumulation time period which is shorter than a predetermined time period to another electric charge accumulation time period which is shorter than the predetermined time period while said image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, said adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor for said amplification unit in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period, and after the amplification factor for said amplification unit is adjusted in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period, said adjustment unit gradually brings the amplification factor for said amplification unit close to an amplification factor, within a predetermined adjustment time period, before adjustment in steps, and

wherein in a case where said control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period from an electric charge accumulation time period which is longer than the predetermined time period to another electric charge accumulation time period which is longer than the predetermined time period while said image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, said adjustment unit does not adjust the amplification factor for said amplification unit in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period.

2. An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein before a predetermined time period elapses after the amplification factor for said amplification unit is adjusted in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period, said adjustment unit restores the amplification factor for said amplification unit to the amplification factor before adjustment.

3. An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period, said adjustment unit adjusts the amplification factor for said amplification unit so that an amount of change in the signal accompanying the change in the electric charge accumulation time period is compensated for.

4. An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a case where the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period is not less than a first predetermined value, said adjustment unit adjusts the amplification factor for said amplification unit when said control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period.

5. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in a case where the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period is not less than a second predetermined value, which is greater than the first predetermined value, said adjustment unit does not adjust the amplification factor for said amplification unit even if said control changes the electric charge accumulation time period.

6. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period so that a level of the signal that has been amplified with an amplification factor unadjusted in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period becomes a desired level.

7. An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period, said adjustment unit adjusts the amplification factor for said amplification unit to an signal that has been obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge in said image pickup apparatus by changing the electric charge accumulation time period in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period.

8. A control method for an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup device that accumulates electric charge corresponding to an amount of light incident on the image pickup apparatus and an amplification unit that amplifies a signal obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge in the image pickup apparatus, comprising:

a control step of controlling an electric charge accumulation time period for accumulating the electric charge in the image pickup apparatus; and

an adjustment step of adjusting an amplification factor for the amplification unit,

wherein in a case where the electric charge accumulation time period is changed in said control step from an electric charge accumulation time period which is shorter than a predetermined time period to another electric charge accumulation time period which is shorter than the predetermined time period while said image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, an amplification factor for said amplification unit is adjusted in said adjustment step in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period , and after the amplification factor for said amplification unit in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period is adjusted, the amplification factor for said amplification unit is gradually brought close to an amplification factor, within a predetermined adjustment time period, before adjustment in steps in said adjustment step, and

wherein in a case where said control step changes the electric charge accumulation time period from an electric charge accumulation time period which is longer than the predetermined time period to another electric charge accumulation time period which is longer than the predetermined time period while said image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, said adjustment step does not adjust the amplification factor for said amplification unit in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to implement a control method for an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup device that accumulates electric charge corresponding to an amount of light incident on the image pickup apparatus and an amplification unit that amplifies a signal obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge in the image pickup apparatus, the control method comprising:

a control step of controlling an electric charge accumulation time period for accumulating the electric charge in the image pickup apparatus; and

an adjustment step of adjusting an amplification factor for the amplification unit,

wherein in a case where the electric charge accumulation time period is changed in said control step from an electric charge accumulation time period which is shorter than a predetermined time period to another electric charge accumulation time period which is shorter than the predetermined time period while said image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, an amplification factor for said amplification unit is adjusted in said adjustment step in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period, and after the amplification factor for said amplification unit in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period is adjusted, the amplification factor for said amplification unit is gradually brought close to an amplification factor, within a predetermined adjustment time period, before adjustment in steps in said adjustment step, and

wherein in a case where said control step changes the electric charge accumulation time period from an electric charge accumulation time period which is longer than the predetermined time period to another electric charge accumulation time period which is longer than the predetermined time period while said image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, said adjustment step does not adjust the amplification factor for said amplification unit in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period.