Imaging Device Having Function for Correcting Image Shake of Acquired Image

• US 20070253732A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Usui, Kazutoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,675,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/130
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/683 performed by a processor, e.g. controlling the readout of an image memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/684 performed by controlling the image sensor readout, e.g. by controlling the integration time

Abstract

An imaging device photoelectrically converts a subject image to generate image data. The imaging device has a function of selectively performing two types of image vibration correction processings on this image data. The imaging device makes a selection/switching between the image vibration correction processings in accordance with a determination of an exposure period required to shoot the image data.

Claims

1. An imaging device, comprising:

an imaging section photoelectrically converting a subject image to generate image data;

a first image vibration correcting section performing an image vibration correction on said image data;

a second image vibration correcting section performing an image vibration correction different from a first image vibration correction on said image data; and

a selection control section selecting whether said first image vibration correcting section is used or said second image vibration correcting section is used for the image vibration correction of said image data based on an exposure period required for the photoelectric conversion of said image data.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein:

said first image vibration correcting section applies an inverse filter of a point spread function indicating an image vibration during said exposure period to said image data to correct said image vibration; and

said second image vibration correcting section corrects the image vibration of said image data by allowing said imaging section to perform imaging operations of plural times obtained by dividing said exposure period and registering and composing obtained plural frames of divided image data.

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

a vibration detecting section detecting a vibration which causes said image vibration, wherein

said first image vibration correcting section corrects said image vibration of said image data using the inverse filter of the point spread function according to the vibration detected by said vibration detecting section.

4. The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein

said vibration detecting section includes an angular speed sensor.

5. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein

said second image vibration correcting section registers and composes the plural frames of said divided image data by pattern matching using a block matching method.

6. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein

said selection control section determines said exposure period by a threshold value according to a transfer period required to read an image of said imaging section and a division exposure count by said second image vibration correcting section and makes the selection between said first image vibration correcting section and said second image vibration correcting section according to a result of the determination.

7. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein

said selection control section determines said exposure period by a threshold value according to a transfer period required to read an image of said imaging section and a focal length when said image data is shot and makes the selection between said first image vibration correcting section and said second image vibration correcting section according to a result of the determination.

8. A control method of an imaging device comprising:

a selecting step of making a selection between at least two types of image vibration corrections;

an imaging step of controlling the imaging device to photoelectrically convert a subject image to generate image data; and

an image vibration correcting step of performing an image vibration correction of said image data in accordance with the image vibration correction selected in said selecting step, wherein

in said selecting step, the selection between two types of said image vibration corrections is made based on an exposure period required for the photoelectric conversion of said image data.

9. The control method of the imaging device according to claim 8, wherein:

said two types of image vibration corrections are

first image vibration correction processing of applying an inverse filter of a point spread function indicating an image vibration during said exposure period to said image data to correct said image vibration; and

second image vibration correcting processing of correcting the image vibration of said image data by allowing said imaging device to perform imaging operations of plural times obtained by dividing said exposure period and registering and composing obtained plural frames of divided image data.

10. A program to cause a computer to execute the control method according to claim 8.

11. A machine-readable recording medium on which a program to cause a computer to execute the control method according to claim 8 is recorded.

12. An imaging device, comprising:

an imaging section photoelectrically converting a subject image over a preset exposure period to generate image data;

an operational correction section applying an inverse filter of a point spread function indicating an image vibration during said exposure period to said image data to correct said image vibration;

a composite correction section correcting the image vibration of said image data by allowing said imaging section to perform imaging operations of plural times obtained by dividing said exposure period and registering and composing obtained plural frames of divided image data;

an exposure period determining section determining said exposure period by a predetermined threshold value; and

a selection control section performing the image vibration correction by said operational correction section if said exposure period is less than said threshold value and performing the image vibration correction by said composite correction section if said exposure period is equal to or more than said threshold value.

13. The imaging device according to claim 12, wherein

said exposure period determining section determines said threshold value based on a multiplication result obtained by multiplying a transfer period required to read an image of said imaging section by a division exposure count of said composite correction section to make the determination of said exposure period.

14. An imaging device, comprising:

an imaging section photoelectrically converting a subject image over a preset exposure period to generate image data;

an operational correction section applying an inverse filter of a point spread function indicating an image vibration during said exposure period to said image data to correct said image vibration;

a composite correction section correcting the image vibration of said image data by allowing said imaging section to perform imaging operations of plural times obtained by dividing said exposure period and registering and composing obtained plural frames of divided image data;

an exposure period determining section making a threshold determination as to whether or not a difference between a total shooting period required for said plural times of division exposures by said composite correction section and said exposure period is large; and

a selection control section performing the image vibration correction by said operational correction section if it is determined by said exposure period determining section that said difference is large and performing the image vibration correction by said composite correction section if it is determined that said difference is small.