Imaging apparatus, data extraction method, and data extraction program

• US 7,689,108 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Hosoda, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hancock; Dennis
• Application Number:
  US11/520,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20070058957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.99, 348/208.12, 348/208.16, 3482084-2086, 348/208.13, 396/234, 396/270, 396 52- 55
• US Class Current: 396/55
• 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 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

When a camera shake correction function is set to “on”, a control unit exposes a CCD. Simultaneously during the exposure, the control unit generates a CCD drive signal for changing relative positions of the CCD and a lens in accordance with a shake detection signal received from a pose sensor. In response to this signal, the position of the CCD is shifted in X and Y directions perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, thereby camera shake correction is performed. Next, the control unit outputs an imaging signal obtained by using the inside of a use range for camera shake correction within the CCD. On the other hand, when the camera shake correction function is set to “off”, the control unit exposes the CCD while the CCD is fixed at a center position. The control unit outputs an imaging signal obtained by using the entire area of the CCD.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an imaging element which opto-electrically converts an image formed by an optical system and outputs an imaging signal;

a shake detection unit which detects a shake of the apparatus and outputs a shake detection signal;

a shake correction unit which performs camera shake correction by changing relative positions of the imaging element and the optical system based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit;

a shake correction necessity determining unit which determines whether the shake correction should be performed by the shake correction unit; and

a control unit which processes an imaging signal read out from a predefined first specific area of the imaging element when the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that the shake correction is to be performed, and which processes an imaging signal read out from a second specific area of the imaging element that is larger than the first specific area and that includes the first specific area when the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that the shake correction is not to be performed.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging signal process unit which processes the imaging signal read out from the imaging element,

wherein the control unit includes a unit which:

(i) controls the imaging signal process unit to process the imaging signal read out from the predefined first specific area of the imaging element when the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that the shake correction is to be performed, and (ii) controls the imaging signal process unit to process the imaging signal read out from the second specific area of the imaging element larger than the first specific area and including the first specific area when the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that the shake correction is not to be performed.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the imaging signal process unit includes an imaging signal display process unit which performs a process for displaying the imaging signal read out from the imaging element.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the imaging signal process unit includes an imaging signal recording process unit which performs a process for recording the imaging signal read out from the imaging element.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reading range switching unit which switches reading ranges of the imaging element from which an imaging signal is read out,

wherein the control unit includes a unit which:

(i) controls the reading range switching unit such that the imaging signal is read out from the predefined first specific area of the imaging element when the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that the shake correction is to be performed, and (ii) controls the reading range switching unit such that the imaging signal is read out from the second specific area of the imaging element larger than the first specific area and including the first specific area when the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that the shake correction is not to be performed.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a center position of the first specific area coincides with a center position of an entire area of the imaging element, and

wherein the second specific area is the entire area of the imaging element.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shooting condition obtaining unit which obtains a predetermined shooting condition,

wherein the shake correction necessity determining unit determines whether it is necessary to perform the shake correction based on the shooting condition obtained by the shooting condition obtaining unit.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined shooting condition includes a zooming magnification.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined shooting condition includes a shutter speed.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shooting condition obtaining unit which obtains a predetermined shooting condition,

wherein the control unit includes a unit which changes the first specific area of the imaging element based on the shooting condition obtained by the shooting condition obtaining unit, when the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that the shake correction is to be performed.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined shooting condition includes a zooming magnification.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined shooting condition includes a shutter speed.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shake correction unit performs the shake correction by moving the imaging element based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a move position obtaining unit which obtains a position of the imaging element moved by the shake correction based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit,

wherein the control unit includes a unit which changes the first specific area of the imaging element based on the position of the imaging element obtained by the move position obtaining unit, when the shake correction necessity determining unit determines that the shake correction is to be performed.

15. A data extraction method, involving use of:

(i) an imaging element which opto-electrically converts an image formed by an optical system and outputs an imaging signal;

(ii) a shake detection unit which detects a shake of an apparatus housing the shake detection unit and outputs a shake detection signal; and

(iii) a shake correction unit which performs shake correction by changing relative positions of the imaging element and the optical system based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit, the method comprising;

determining whether the shake correction should be performed by the shake correction unit; and

processing an imaging signal read out from a predefined first specific area of the imaging element when it is determined that the shake correction is to be performed, and processing an imaging signal read out from a second specific area of the imaging element that is larger than the first specific area and that includes the first specific area when it is determined that the shake correction is not to be performed.

16. A computer-readable recording medium having stored thereon a data extraction program for a computer of an imaging apparatus comprising:

(i) an imaging element which opto-electrically converts an image formed by an optical system and outputs an imaging signal;

(ii) a shake detection unit which detects a shake of the apparatus and outputs a shake detection signal; and

(iii) a shake correction unit which performs shake correction by changing relative positions of the imaging element and the optical system based on the shake detection signal from the shake detection unit, the program controlling the computer to perform functions comprising;

determining whether the shake correction should be performed by the shake correction unit; and

processing an imaging signal read out from a predefined first specific area of the imaging element when it is determined that the shake correction is to be performed, and processing an imaging signal read out from a second specific area of the imaging element that is larger than the first specific area and that includes the first specific area when it is determined that the shake correction is not to be performed.