JP5147664B2 - Imaging apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image pickup apparatus such as a digital still camera or a video camera having an electronic zoom function in which an image obtained by reading only a signal in a desired area from an image pickup area of an image pickup device is enlarged and electronically zoomed is provided. is there.

  In Patent Document 1, as a technique related to the electronic zoom function, reading is performed in a reading mode in which the number of pixels read during zoom stop is the same as the number of output pixels, and electronic scaling is not applied to the read image. It is disclosed that resolution degradation is suppressed.

For example, when an image sensor having a pixel number of 1280 × 960 is provided with a double electronic zoom function, the readout mode at the time of telephoto (at the time of double electronic zoom) is a mode in which all pixels are read out from a central 640 × 480 region And In addition, the reading mode at the time of wide angle (at the time of 1 × electronic zoom) is a mode in which the entire area of 1280 × 960 is reduced to 640 × 480 by adding 2 × 2 pixels. As a result, pixel interpolation is not performed during telephoto, and resolution is not reduced. Further, a plurality of predetermined magnifications (zoom stop magnifications) prepared in advance such as 1 × and 2 × are used, and the magnification between them is smoothed by performing scaling processing by interpolation processing such as linear interpolation or cubic interpolation. A zooming image can be obtained.
JP 2005-191867 A

  However, the above prior art relates to electronic viewfinder display at the zoom stop magnification, and considers MF small-screen display that displays a region of the read image at a high resolution for manual focus (MF). Absent. The readout mode at the zoom stop magnification is selected so as not to lower the resolution of the electronic viewfinder display. Therefore, at the zoom stop magnification, the high-resolution MF small screen display in which the resolution of the electronic viewfinder display is further increased cannot be displayed.

  The prior art is limited to zoom stop magnifications prepared in advance such as 1 × and 2 ×, and the case where the electronic zoom magnification is arbitrary is not considered. Therefore, when the electronic zoom magnification is arbitrarily operated, if the operation over the zoom stop magnification is repeated near the zoom stop magnification at which the reading mode changes, the reading mode is frequently changed.

  Further, the above prior art does not consider increasing the frame rate. Therefore, when the reading mode when the frame rate is increased is restricted due to hardware restrictions or the like, the electronic zoom magnification is also restricted in accordance with the restriction of the reading mode.

  The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving at least one of the problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to improve convenience when using an image pickup apparatus having an electronic zoom function, a control method thereof, and a program thereof.

The object is to set an electronic zoom magnification, an imaging unit having a plurality of readout modes in which the number of pixels to be read from the imaging device is different from the unit pixel of the output image, and an image output by the imaging unit A generation unit that generates a display image having a predetermined number of pixels to be displayed on the display unit, and a reading mode in the imaging unit and on an imaging element that performs reading in accordance with the electronic zoom magnification set by the setting unit A changing means for changing the area in a predetermined relationship and causing the imaging means to perform reading, wherein a predetermined area of the display image is displayed as a higher resolution image having a higher resolution separately from the display image. When an instruction to display is made on the means, the unit pixel is higher than the readout mode related to the set electronic zoom magnification. It is achieved by an imaging apparatus according to the present invention characterized by having a changing means for causing the reading on the imaging means with a small reading mode number of readout pixels for.

In addition, the above object is a method for controlling an imaging apparatus having an imaging unit having a plurality of readout modes in which the number of pixels to be read out from the imaging device is different for a unit pixel of an output image, wherein the setting unit of the imaging apparatus includes: A setting step for setting an electronic zoom magnification; a generation step for generating a display image having a predetermined number of pixels to be displayed on a display unit from the image output by the generation unit of the imaging device; According to the electronic zoom magnification set in the setting step, the changing unit of the image pickup device changes the reading mode in the image pickup unit and the area on the image pickup device to read out according to a predetermined relationship, and A change step for causing the means to read out, separately from the display image, a predetermined region of the display image is a high-resolution image having a higher resolution. When an instruction to display on the display means is given, the image pickup means is read out in a readout mode in which the number of readout pixels is smaller than that in the readout mode associated with the set electronic zoom magnification. It is also achieved by a method for controlling an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, characterized in that it includes a changing step to be performed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience when using the electronic zoom function.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Further, the embodiment of the present invention shows the most preferable mode of the invention, and does not limit the scope of the invention.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the imaging apparatus 1, a light beam that has passed through an imaging optical system 101 including an imaging lens or the like is guided to an imaging surface of an area sensor 102 (solid-state imaging device). Thereby, an image signal corresponding to the subject image is generated by photoelectric conversion in a plurality of photodiodes (pixels) constituting the imaging surface of the area sensor 102.

  The area sensor 102 is sequentially driven by a clock signal supplied from a TG 109 (timing generator) as reading means. From the area sensor 102 driven by the TG 109, image signals generated by the photodiodes are sequentially read and output to the A / D converter 104. Details of reading out the image signal will be described later. The A / D converter 104 performs A / D (Analog-To-Digital) conversion according to the clock signal supplied from the TG 109.

  The image signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 104 is input to the signal processing circuit 105, and is subjected to color conversion, white balance, gamma correction processing, and the like to be converted into YCrCb luminance and color difference signals. The output of the signal processing circuit 105 is input to the scaling processing circuit 106.

  The scaling processing circuit 106 performs scaling processing on the input image signal in accordance with the display and recording image size (800 × 600 pixels) according to the electronic zoom magnification. The output of the scaling processing circuit 106 is input to the recording circuit 107 or the display circuit 110.

  The recording circuit 107 performs processing such as compression on the image signal input from the scaling processing circuit 106, converts the image signal into a predetermined format, and records the converted data on the removable recording medium 108. For example, a moving image or the like sequentially read at a predetermined frame rate by the area sensor 102 is sequentially recorded (sequentially output) on the recording medium 108.

  The display circuit 110 performs processing such as superimposing on the image signal input from the scaling processing circuit 106 and then converts the image signal into, for example, an NTSC analog image signal. The converted analog image signal is output to the display 111 as display means and displayed on the screen of the display 111. For example, on the screen of the display 111, images sequentially read out at a predetermined frame rate by the area sensor 102 are sequentially displayed (electronic viewfinder display).

  The microcomputer 112 as a control unit is a so-called microcontroller, and centrally controls each unit of the imaging apparatus 1 in accordance with a user instruction received by the operation unit 113 as an operation unit. Specifically, the microcomputer 112 monitors the state of a mode dial (not shown) of the operation unit 113. Then, the microcomputer 112 performs an addition thinning mode of the area sensor 102, a processing image size of the signal processing circuit 105, a scaling ratio in the scaling processing circuit 106, and the like according to the electronic zoom magnification designated in response to the mode dial instruction. To change.

  Here, an addition thinning mode (hereinafter, read mode) of the area sensor 102 that is changed under the control of the microcomputer 112 will be described. 2 to 4 are diagrams for explaining the reading mode of the area sensor 102. FIG. Specifically, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a plurality of readout modes of the area sensor 102. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the read angle of view of the area sensor 102. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the magnification and electronic zoom magnification of the magnification processing circuit 106.

  In the following description, the area sensor 102 has a total number of pixels of 4800 × 3600 pixels. Further, as a plurality of readout modes for reading out pixels of the area sensor 102 by the TG 109, a 6 × 6 addition mode, a 3 × 3 addition mode, a 2 × 2 addition mode, and a 1 × 1 non-addition mode are assumed. In each readout mode, a plurality of pixels arranged on the imaging surface of the area sensor 102 are read out by adding pixels included in the unit area for each predetermined unit area. Note that each reading mode has a different unit area size. The image size of a moving image recorded on the recording medium 108 or an image displayed on the electronic viewfinder on the display 111 is 800 × 600 pixels.

  The 6 × 6 addition mode is a reading mode in which one pixel value is obtained by adding 6 × 6 pixels (unit region) of the same surrounding color as shown in FIG. In the 6 × 6 addition mode, as shown in FIG. 3, when all pixels of 4800 × 3600 are read out (equivalent to 1 × electronic zoom), an image size of 800 × 600 pixels (image size of a moving image recorded as an electronic viewfinder display) (Same size as). That is, in the 6 × 6 addition mode, 4800 × 3600 pixels are the readout region, and when the electronic zoom is 1 ×, the upper limit variable magnification at which the pixels can be read at the same magnification is obtained.

  The 3 × 3 addition mode is a readout mode in which one pixel value is obtained by adding 3 × 3 pixels of the same surrounding color as shown in FIG. In the 3 × 3 addition mode, when all the pixels of 4800 × 3600 pixels are read as shown in FIG. 3, an image having an image size of 1600 × 1200 pixels is output.

  In the 3 × 3 addition mode, peripheral images are acquired in excess of the image size (800 × 600 pixels) of the electronic viewfinder display or the recorded moving image. Therefore, when an image in the 3 × 3 addition mode is used, the frame corresponding to the electronic zoom magnification between the electronic zoom 1 × and the electronic zoom 2 × as shown in FIG. 4 is scaled without causing image quality degradation. Can be generated. That is, in the 3 × 3 addition mode, 4800 × 3600 pixels are the readout area, and when the electronic zoom is doubled, the upper limit variable magnification at which the pixels can be read at the same magnification is obtained.

  The 2 × 2 addition mode is a reading mode in which one pixel value is obtained by adding 2 × 2 pixels having the same surrounding color as shown in FIG. In the 2 × 2 addition mode, as shown in FIG. 3, when the center 3200 × 2400 pixels are read from all the pixels of 4800 × 3600 pixels (equivalent to electronic zoom 1.50 times), an image having an image size of 1600 × 1200 pixels Is output.

  In the 2 × 2 addition mode, even when the pixel is read out with an electronic zoom equivalent to 1.50 times, the peripheral image is more than the electronic viewfinder display and the recorded moving image size (800 × 600 pixels). Is getting. Therefore, when an image in the 2 × 2 addition mode is used, as shown in FIG. 4, the electronic zoom is 1.5 times (= 1.50 × 1.00) to the electronic zoom is 3 times (= 1.50 × 2.00). The frame corresponding to the electronic zoom magnification until 1) is generated by scaling without causing image quality degradation. That is, in the 2 × 2 addition mode, the center 3200 × 2400 pixels are the readout area, and when the electronic zoom is 3 ×, the upper limit variable magnification that allows the pixels to be read at the same magnification is obtained.

  The 1 × 1 non-addition mode is a readout mode in which one pixel value is obtained from one pixel without adding pixels. In the 1 × 1 non-addition mode, as shown in FIG. 3, when the center 1600 × 1200 pixels are read from all the pixels of 4800 × 3600 pixels (equivalent to an electronic zoom of 3.00), the image size is 1600 × 1200 pixels. Is output.

  In the 1 × 1 non-addition mode, even when pixels are read out at an electronic zoom equivalent to 3.00 times, the peripheral area is more than the electronic viewfinder display and the image size of the recorded moving image (800 × 600 pixels). The image is acquired. In the 1 × 1 non-addition mode, as shown in FIG. 4, an electronic range from 3 times electronic zoom (= 3.00 × 1.00) to 6 times electronic zoom (= 3.00 × 2.00). A frame corresponding to the zoom magnification is generated by scaling without causing image quality degradation. That is, in the 1 × 1 non-addition mode, the center 1600 × 1200 pixels is the readout region.

  Next, the electronic viewfinder display and the MF small screen display for still image capturing according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a diagram (control information) showing the transition of the reading mode of the area sensor 102 at the time of displaying an electronic viewfinder for capturing a still image. In the microcomputer 112, the above diagram is stored in advance in a ROM (not shown) or the like.

  In the electronic viewfinder display, the image sequentially picked up by the area sensor 102 under the control of the microcomputer 112 is read out in any one of the above-described reading modes, and the scaling process is performed by the scaling process circuit 106, and then the display circuit 110 is displayed. To be output. The MF (manual focus) small screen display is to display on the display 111 a small screen in which the resolution of a predetermined area displayed in the electronic viewfinder is increased when performing manual focus adjustment. That is, in the MF small screen display, an image having a resolution higher than that of the image displayed in the electronic viewfinder is displayed.

  In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis is the total electronic zoom magnification, the vertical axis of the lower graph is the electronic zoom magnification by the scaling processing circuit 106, and the vertical axis of the upper graph is the electronic zoom magnification by the addition thinning readout of the area sensor 102. . In addition, black circles include the value, and white circles do not include the value. The image quality degradation region is a scaling region in which image quality degradation occurs due to pixel interpolation when electronic zooming is performed based on the image read in each of the above-described readout modes. The readout pixel-free area is a zooming area that has a wider angle than the angle of view of the read image when electronic zooming is performed based on the image read in each of the read modes described above.

  For example, when an electronic viewfinder display with a total electronic zoom magnification of × 2.00 times is performed, an image having an image size (1600 × 1200 pixels) equivalent to the electronic zoom magnification × 1.00 is read in the 3 × 3 addition mode. Then, by processing (trimming) the central 800 × 600 pixels without scaling, a total electronic zoom magnification of × 2.00 zoom is realized.

  Also, if the total electronic zoom magnification is larger than x2.00 in the 3x3 addition mode, an enlargement process must be performed after trimming 800x600 pixels from the 1600x1200 pixel image obtained in the addition mode. Don't be. This is because when the total electronic zoom magnification is larger than x2.00, the image size of the image trimmed after reading from the area sensor 102 in the 3x3 addition mode is smaller than the displayed image size. When this enlargement process is performed, the image quality deteriorates.

  Therefore, when the total electronic zoom magnification is larger than × 2.00 (white circle) × 3.00 or less (black circle), the reading mode is switched to the 2 × 2 addition mode. In this way, by switching the readout mode, the image size of the image trimmed after being read out from the area sensor 102 is prevented from being smaller than the displayed image size (800 × 600 pixels), and the image quality deterioration is prevented.

  Further, in FIG. 5, three positions surrounded by a broken-line circle indicate zoom magnifications of the electronic viewfinder (the electronic zoom magnification does not change even when the frame is updated). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that zooming is stopped at this zoom stop magnification (electronic zoom magnification x1.00, x2.00, x3.00), and zooming is not stopped at a magnification in between.

  Further, when the electronic zoom magnification is 1.00, all pixels are read out in the 6 × 6 addition mode, and an image of 800 × 600 pixels is output to the display circuit 110 without changing the magnification, thereby performing electronic viewfinder display. When the electronic zoom magnification is 2.00, all pixels are read out in the 3 × 3 addition mode, and the image of the center 800 × 600 pixels is trimmed and output to the display circuit 110 for electronic viewfinder display. At an electronic zoom magnification of 3.00, 3200 × 2400 pixels are read out in the 2 × 2 addition mode, and an image of the center 800 × 600 pixels is trimmed and output to the display circuit 110 for electronic viewfinder display. As described above, at the zoom stop magnification, an image trimmed after being read out from the area sensor 102 is output to the display circuit 110 without scaling, and electronic viewfinder display is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the MF small screen display is instructed by the operation unit 113 from the user while zooming is stopped, the microcomputer 112 reads the reading mode of the area sensor 102 with a higher resolution than the current reading mode. Transition to mode. Further, the microcomputer 112 sets the scaling factor of the scaling processing circuit 106 to a predetermined magnification, and scales the image read in the transitioned reading mode with the set magnification. That is, the microcomputer 112 sets the scaling factor of the scaling processing circuit 106 to a magnification that cancels the variation caused by the transition of the reading mode, so that the electronic viewfinder display during zoom stop is performed according to the transition of the reading mode. Prevent influence.

  For example, when the MF small screen display is instructed when the total electronic zoom magnification is × 2.00, the microcomputer 112 enters the 2 × 2 addition mode having a higher resolution than the 3 × 3 addition mode that is the current readout mode. Transition. Further, the microcomputer 112 changes the scaling factor of the scaling processing circuit 106 from x1.00 to x1.33 so that the total electronic zoom magnification does not fluctuate due to the transition of the reading mode. change. As described above, reading in the 3 × 3 addition mode is equivalent to the electronic zoom 1.00, whereas reading in the 2 × 2 addition mode is equivalent to 1.50 times the electronic zoom. Therefore, the microcomputer 112 sets 1.33, which is 1.33 × 1.50 = 1.955 (≈2.00), in the scaling processing circuit 106 as a scaling factor.

  Note that the transition of the read mode before the MF small screen and the scaling process control as shown in FIG. 5 described above are realized by a known technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like. Here, the operation of the microcomputer 112 when the above-described MF small screen display is instructed will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the process is started, the microcomputer 112 determines whether or not the electronic zoom is stopped in S101, and waits for the process until the electronic zoom is stopped. By this S101, the microcomputer 112 waits for processing until the electronic zoom magnification becomes the zoom stop magnification (× 1.00, × 2.00, × 3.00).

  When the electronic zoom magnification is the zoom stop magnification, the microcomputer 112 determines whether or not the user has instructed the MF small screen display based on the state of the operation unit 113 in S102.

  If there is no MF small screen display instruction in S102, the microcomputer 112 causes the display 111 to display the image read from the area sensor 102 without scaling by the scaling processing circuit 106 in S103.

  When there is an instruction to display the MF small screen in S102, the microcomputer 112 changes the reading mode of the area sensor 102 to a reading mode with higher resolution in S104. Further, the microcomputer 112 scales the image read from the area sensor 102 in the transitioned reading mode by the scaling processing circuit 106 as described above and causes the display 111 to display the image.

  Next, in S <b> 105, the microcomputer 112 displays an MF small screen based on the image read from the area sensor 102 in the changed reading mode in a predetermined area (MF window) of the display 111. Since the MF small screen is displayed based on an image read in a read mode having a higher resolution than the read mode at the normal zoom stop magnification, the resolution of a predetermined area can be increased.

  For example, when the electronic zoom magnification is × 2.00, in S105, the MF small screen is displayed based on the image read in the 2 × 2 addition mode having a higher resolution than the 3 × 3 addition mode. Become. In this case, even if an image obtained by enlarging a predetermined area up to 3 times the electronic zoom is displayed on the MF small screen, the image quality is not deteriorated.

  Next, in step S106, the microcomputer 112 determines whether or not to continue imaging by determining whether or not an instruction to end imaging is received from the user through the operation unit 113. When the imaging is continued, the microcomputer 112 returns the process to S101. If the imaging is not continued, the microcomputer 112 ends the electronic viewfinder mode.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize MF small screen display with high resolution without affecting the electronic viewfinder display.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the hardware configuration of the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, in the second embodiment, only portions different from the first embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the reading mode transition of the area sensor 102 at the time of electronic viewfinder display is different from that in the first embodiment, and control as shown in the diagram of FIG. 7 is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the second embodiment, the operation at the zoom stop magnification is different from that in FIG. For example, in the first embodiment, reading in the 2 × 2 addition mode is performed when the total electronic zoom magnification is larger than × 2.00 (white circle) × 3.00 or less (black circle). On the other hand, in the second embodiment, reading in the 2 × 2 addition mode is performed when the total electronic zoom magnification is between x2.00 and higher (black circle) × less than 3.00 (white circle). That is, in the second embodiment, the transition to the reading mode in which the size of the unit area is small is performed before the upper limit variable magnification at which the pixels can be read at the same magnification. Therefore, the zoom processing circuit 106 performs zooming processing at the zoom stop magnification, and the MF small screen display with high resolution can be performed without changing the readout mode in accordance with the instruction of the MF small screen display. It has become.

  Specifically, at an electronic zoom magnification of 1.00, an image having an image size of 1600 × 1200 pixels is read out for all the pixels of the area sensor 102 in the 3 × 3 addition mode. At the electronic zoom magnification of 2.00, an image having an image size of 1200 × 900 pixels is read out in the 2 × 2 addition mode for the 2400 × 1800 pixels at the center of the area sensor 102. At the electronic zoom magnification × 3.00, an image of the same size is read out in the 1 × 1 non-addition mode for 1600 × 1200 pixels at the center of the area sensor 102.

  Next, in the zoom processing circuit 106, the magnification is reduced to 1/2 times when the electronic zoom magnification is 1.00, 2/3 times when the electronic zoom magnification is 2.00, and 1/2 times when the electronic zoom magnification is 3.00. After that, the electronic viewfinder is displayed on the display 111.

  Even when the readout mode is changed according to the diagram as described above, high-resolution MF small screen display can be realized without affecting the electronic viewfinder display, as in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, it is sufficient that the reading mode transition is performed so that a high-resolution MF small-screen display is possible at the zoom stop magnification. For example, as indicated by a dotted line in the figure, a configuration in which the read mode transitions prior to the zoom stop magnification may be employed.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the hardware configuration of the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, in the third embodiment, only parts different from the first and second embodiments will be described.

  The present embodiment relates to an electronic zoom at the time of displaying an electronic viewfinder for moving image recording and at the time of moving image recording. Note that when displaying an electronic viewfinder for moving image recording and during moving image recording, the zooming magnification is not stopped at the zoom stop magnification described above, and the user is instructed to increase or decrease the electronic zoom magnification via the operation unit 113. Any zoom magnification can be selected.

  In the present embodiment, the reading mode of the area sensor 102 is changed according to the diagram of FIG. 8 when displaying an electronic viewfinder for recording a moving image and when recording a moving image. As shown in FIG. 8, when recording a moving image or the like, the read mode is different so that the magnification at which the read mode transitions in the direction in which the total electronic zoom magnification increases and the magnification at which the read mode transitions in the decrease direction. Provide hysteresis at transition.

  For example, when the total electronic zoom magnification is x2.00 to x3.00, the reading mode is changed from the 3x3 addition mode to the 2x2 addition mode when slightly exceeding x2.00 (high magnification side) in the increasing direction. Transition. On the other hand, in the decreasing direction, the reading mode transits from the 2 × 2 addition mode to the 3 × 3 addition mode at a point slightly below × 2.00 (low magnification side).

  That is, due to the hysteresis, when the electronic zoom magnification is continuously increased in response to an increase instruction, the electronic zoom magnification for shifting the reading mode is shifted to the high magnification side. In addition, when continuously reducing the electronic zoom magnification in response to a reduction instruction, the electronic zoom magnification for shifting the reading mode is shifted to the low magnification side.

  The above-described hysteresis during the transition of the read mode can reduce the situation where the read mode transition frequently occurs. For example, even when the electronic zoom magnification is repeatedly operated between the total electronic zoom magnification x 2.00 and x 3.00, the reading mode does not transit from the 2 x 2 addition mode.

  Here, the operation of the microcomputer 112 when the user instructs either the still image recording or the moving image recording via the operation unit 113 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the process is started, the microcomputer 112 determines whether still image recording or moving image recording is instructed by the user based on the state of the operation unit 113 in S201.

  In the case of still image recording, the microcomputer 112 selects a transition diagram (such as FIG. 5 or FIG. 6) of a readout mode for still image recording in S202 and controls the readout mode according to the selected diagram. Do. In the case of moving image recording, the microcomputer 112 selects a moving image recording readout mode transition diagram (such as FIG. 8) in S203 and controls the reading mode according to the selected diagram.

  Next, in step S <b> 204, the microcomputer 112 determines whether or not to continue imaging by determining whether or not an instruction to end imaging is received from the user via the operation unit 113. When the imaging is continued, the microcomputer 112 returns the process to S201. If the imaging is not continued, the microcomputer 112 ends the process. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the reading mode transition of the area sensor 102 from frequently occurring.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the hardware configuration of the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, in the fourth embodiment, only parts different from the first to third embodiments will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the reading mode of the area sensor 102 is changed according to the diagram of FIG. 10 when displaying an electronic viewfinder for moving image recording and when recording a moving image. As shown in FIG. 10, at the time of moving image recording or the like, the reading mode of the area sensor 102 is changed according to the transition diagram (A) or the transition diagram (B). The transition diagram (A) as the first control information is a diagram selected at a normal frame rate, and the transition diagram (B) as the second control information is an area at a frame rate faster than that at the normal time. It is a diagram selected at a high frame rate for driving the sensor.

  In contrast to the transition diagram (A), the transition diagram (B) shows the transition of the readout mode so that the number of pixels read from the area sensor 102 is reduced or the area to be read by the area sensor 102 is narrowed. The timing to do is shifted to the high magnification side. In the present embodiment, by using the transition diagram (B) shifted to the high magnification side instead of the transition diagram (A), the range of the electronic zoom magnification at the high frame rate can be expanded.

  For example, in the 6 × 6 addition mode, the pixels read from the area sensor 102 are 800 × 600 pixels, and the number of pixels may be smaller than that in the 3 × 3 addition mode (1600 × 1200 pixels). That is, when the drive frequency is the same, the time required for pixel readout is shorter in the 6 × 6 addition mode than in the 3 × 3 addition mode.

  Due to hardware restrictions such as the processing amount of the signal processing circuit 105 that can process between frames, the high-speed frame rate is limited to reading in the 6 × 6 addition mode because it is necessary to shorten the time required for reading. And In this case, in the read mode transition using the transition diagram (A), the electronic zoom at the high frame rate is limited to 1.00 times. However, by using the transition diagram (B) instead of the transition diagram (A), the range of the electronic zoom magnification at the high frame rate is expanded to around 1.00 to 1.50 times. Note that the shape of the transition diagram (B) (the shift amount with respect to the transition diagram (A)) depends on the above-described hardware restrictions and design restrictions such as the extent to which image quality deterioration is allowed. It shall be set in advance.

  Here, the operation of the microcomputer 112 when the user instructs either the normal frame rate or the high-speed frame rate via the operation unit 113 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the process is started, the microcomputer 112 determines in S301 whether the normal frame rate or the high-speed frame rate is instructed by the user based on the state of the operation unit 113.

  If the frame rate is normal, the microcomputer 112 selects the transition diagram (A) in S302, and controls the reading mode according to the selected diagram. If the frame rate is high, the microcomputer 112 selects a transition diagram (B) in S303 and controls the reading mode according to the selected diagram.

  Next, in S304, the microcomputer 112 determines whether or not to continue imaging by determining whether or not an instruction to end imaging is received from the user through the operation unit 113. When the imaging is continued, the microcomputer 112 returns the process to S301. If the imaging is not continued, the microcomputer 112 ends the process. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the electronic zoom magnification range can be expanded at a high frame rate.

  Note that the description in the above-described embodiment shows an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration and operation in the embodiment described above can be changed as appropriate.

(Other embodiments)
The above-described embodiment can also be realized in software by a computer of a system or apparatus (or CPU, MPU, etc.). Therefore, the computer program itself supplied to the computer in order to implement the above-described embodiment by the computer also realizes the present invention. That is, the computer program itself for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is also one aspect of the present invention.

  The computer program for realizing the above-described embodiment may be in any form as long as it can be read by a computer. For example, it can be composed of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, but is not limited thereto. A computer program for realizing the above-described embodiment is supplied to a computer via a storage medium or wired / wireless communication. Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program include a magnetic storage medium such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, and a magnetic tape, an optical / magneto-optical storage medium such as an MO, CD, and DVD, and a nonvolatile semiconductor memory.

  As a computer program supply method using wired / wireless communication, there is a method of using a server on a computer network. In this case, a data file (program file) that can be a computer program forming the present invention is stored in the server. The program file may be an executable format or a source code. Then, the program file is supplied by downloading to a client computer that has accessed the server. In this case, the program file can be divided into a plurality of segment files, and the segment files can be distributed and arranged on different servers. That is, a server apparatus that provides a client computer with a program file for realizing the above-described embodiment is also one aspect of the present invention.

  In addition, a storage medium in which the computer program for realizing the above-described embodiment is encrypted and distributed is distributed, and key information for decrypting is supplied to a user who satisfies a predetermined condition, and the user's computer Installation may be allowed. The key information can be supplied by being downloaded from a homepage via the Internet, for example. Further, the computer program for realizing the above-described embodiment may use an OS function already running on the computer. Further, a part of the computer program for realizing the above-described embodiment may be configured by firmware such as an expansion board attached to the computer, or may be executed by a CPU provided in the expansion board. Good.

It is a block diagram of the imaging device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the addition mode of an area sensor. It is a figure for demonstrating the read view angle of an area sensor. It is a figure for demonstrating the magnification and electronic zoom magnification of a magnification processing circuit. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transition of the reading mode of the area sensor at the time of displaying an electronic viewfinder for still images according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the microcomputer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a transition of the reading mode of the area sensor when displaying a still image electronic viewfinder according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing transition of the reading mode of the area sensor when displaying an electronic viewfinder for moving image recording and when recording a moving image according to the third embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the microcomputer which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing transition of the reading mode of the area sensor when displaying an electronic viewfinder for moving image recording and recording a moving image according to the fourth embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the microcomputer which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

101 Lens 102 Area Sensor 104 A / D Converter 105 Signal Processing Circuit 106 Scaling Processing Circuit 107 Recording Circuit 108 Recording Medium 109 TG
110 Display Circuit 111 Display 112 Microcomputer 113 Operation Unit

Claims (6)

Setting means for setting the electronic zoom magnification;
  An imaging means having a plurality of readout modes in which the number of pixels to be read out from the imaging device is different for the unit pixel of the image to be output;
  Generating means for generating a display image of a predetermined number of pixels to be displayed on the display means from the image output by the imaging means;
  A change in which the imaging unit performs reading by changing the readout mode in the imaging unit and the area on the imaging device to perform readout in a predetermined relationship according to the electronic zoom magnification set by the setting unit Means for displaying a predetermined area of the display image on the display means as a high-resolution image having a higher resolution separately from the display image, and is related to the set electronic zoom magnification. A changing unit that causes the imaging unit to perform readout in a readout mode in which the number of readout pixels is smaller with respect to a unit pixel than the readout mode being
An imaging device comprising: The changing means is configured to continuously increase the magnification from a second electronic zoom magnification lower than the first electronic zoom magnification to a predetermined first electronic zoom magnification for switching the reading mode by the setting means. When a third electronic zoom magnification lower than the first electronic zoom magnification and higher than the second electronic zoom magnification is set, the unit is set to be higher than that of the set readout mode. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is changed to a readout mode in which the number of readout pixels is small with respect to the pixels. The changing means is
    When the setting means makes a setting for continuously increasing the magnification across the predetermined first electronic zoom magnification for switching the reading mode, a second electronic device that is higher than the first electronic zoom magnification. When the zoom magnification is set, the readout mode is changed to a readout mode in which the number of readout pixels is smaller than the set readout mode,
    When a setting is made to continuously reduce the magnification across the first electronic zoom magnification by the setting means, when a third electronic zoom magnification lower than the first electronic zoom magnification is set In addition, the readout mode is changed to a readout mode in which the number of readout pixels is larger than the set readout mode.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1. It further has an acquisition means for acquiring a frame rate set for movie shooting,
  The changing unit changes the reading mode using a relationship different from the predetermined relationship in which the image output by the imaging unit is within the number of pixels that can be read at the frame rate acquired by the acquiring unit. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A method of controlling an imaging apparatus having an imaging unit having a plurality of readout modes in which the number of pixels to be read out from an imaging device is different for unit pixels of an image to be output,
  A setting step in which the setting means of the imaging apparatus sets an electronic zoom magnification;
  A generating step of generating a display image of a predetermined number of pixels to be displayed on the display unit from the image output by the imaging unit;
  According to the electronic zoom magnification set in the setting step, the changing unit of the image pickup device changes the read mode in the image pickup unit and the area on the image pickup device to read out in a predetermined relationship, and This is a change step for causing the imaging means to perform reading, and is set when an instruction to display a predetermined area of the display image as a higher resolution image on the display means is given separately from the display image. A change step of causing the imaging unit to perform readout in a readout mode in which the number of readout pixels is smaller with respect to a unit pixel than the readout mode associated with the electronic zoom magnification,
A method for controlling an imaging apparatus, comprising: Program for causing a computer to function as each unit except for the image pickup means of the imaging equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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