Search

JP-7854814-B2 - Imaging device and its control method

JP7854814B2JP 7854814 B2JP7854814 B2JP 7854814B2JP-7854814-B2

Inventors

  • 兎澤 尚平
  • 伊藤 大輔

Assignees

  • キヤノン株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20220131

Claims (13)

  1. Image sensor and A control means that, when a first shooting mode is set, controls the image sensor to acquire multiple images by taking multiple images while changing the exposure; when a second shooting mode different from the first shooting mode is set, controls the image sensor to acquire multiple images by amplifying the image signal obtained by taking one image with multiple different gains within the image sensor; and when a third shooting mode different from the first and second shooting modes is set, controls the image sensor to acquire multiple images by multiplying one of the multiple image signals obtained by taking images a fewer number of times than in the first shooting mode by multiple different gains . A generation means for generating a single image with a wider dynamic range than each of the multiple images acquired in any of the first to third shooting modes, An imaging device characterized by having the following features.
  2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the second imaging mode, the image signal obtained by performing the single imaging is divided into a plurality of regions, and different gains are applied to the image signal for each of the plurality of regions.
  3. The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising setting means for setting to any of the first to third shooting modes.
  4. The imaging device according to claim 3 , characterized in that the setting means sets the first shooting mode when prioritizing the dynamic range of the captured image, and sets the second shooting mode when the subject is moving fast.
  5. It further has an operating means for inputting user instructions, The imaging device according to claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that the setting means is set to one of the first to third shooting modes in response to the operation of the operating means.
  6. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5 , characterized in that the setting means allows selection of the range of dynamic range expansion.
  7. A luminance difference detection means for detecting the luminance difference of the subject to be photographed, Motion detection means for detecting the movement of the subject, A brightness detection means for detecting the brightness of the subject, The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6 , further comprising the above.
  8. The imaging device according to claim 7, characterized in that the setting means is set to one of the first to third shooting modes according to at least one of the brightness difference, movement, and brightness of the subject.
  9. The system further includes a storage means that stores a table in which the luminance difference, movement, and brightness of the subject are associated with the first to third shooting modes. The imaging device according to claim 7 or 8 , characterized in that the setting means is set to one of the first to third shooting modes by referring to the table.
  10. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , further comprising a suggestion means for suggesting any of the first to third shooting modes.
  11. A control step is provided to control the system so that when a first shooting mode is set, multiple images are acquired by taking multiple images with varying exposures using the image sensor; when a second shooting mode different from the first shooting mode is set, multiple images are acquired by amplifying the image signal obtained by taking one image using the image sensor with multiple different gains within the image sensor; and when a third shooting mode different from the first and second shooting modes is set, multiple images are acquired by multiplying one of the multiple image signals obtained by taking images a fewer number of times than in the first shooting mode by multiple different gains . A generation step of generating a single image with a wider dynamic range than each of the multiple images acquired in any of the first to third shooting modes, A control method for an imaging device, characterized by having the following features.
  12. A program for causing a computer to perform each step of the control method for the imaging apparatus described in claim 11 .
  13. A computer-readable storage medium storing the program described in claim 12 .

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging device and a method for controlling the same, and more particularly to a technique for generating high dynamic range images. Conventionally, technologies have been proposed to expand the dynamic range related to tonal gradation using image sensors such as CCD image sensors and CMOS image sensors commonly used in digital cameras. Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging device that expands the dynamic range by applying multiple different amplification gains to the signal of the same pixel, simultaneously reading it out, and combining the results through signal processing. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique that expands the dynamic range by switching the number of shots taken depending on the state of the detected subject and the shooting mode, and then combining the resulting images through signal processing. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-128253Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-171146 A block diagram showing the schematic configuration of an imaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.A diagram showing the schematic configuration of an image sensor according to the first embodiment.A flowchart of the HDR shooting mode setting process according to the first embodiment.A diagram showing an example of a user interface display according to the first embodiment.A flowchart of the HDR shooting process according to the first embodiment.A block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the imaging device according to the second embodiment.A flowchart of the HDR shooting mode setting process according to the second embodiment.A diagram showing an example of a user interface display according to the second embodiment.A flowchart of the HDR shooting mode automatic setting process according to the second embodiment.A figure showing an example of an HDR shooting mode table according to the second embodiment.A figure showing another example of an HDR shooting mode table according to the second embodiment.A flowchart of the HDR shooting process according to the second embodiment.A diagram showing an example of a user interface display according to the third embodiment.A flowchart of the process for changing the HDR shooting mode according to the third embodiment.A diagram showing an example of a user interface display according to the third embodiment.A diagram showing an example of a user interface display according to the third embodiment.A diagram showing an example of a user interface display according to the third embodiment. The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention as defined in the claims. While multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any way. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, identical or similar configurations are given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. <First Embodiment> [Configuration of the imaging device] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the imaging device 100 in the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that the imaging device 100 may be any electronic device equipped with a camera function, such as a digital camera or digital video camera, or a camera-equipped mobile phone, camera-equipped computer, game console, etc. In Figure 1, the photographic lens 101 is an interchangeable lens unit that can be attached to the main body of the imaging device 100, or a lens unit incorporated into the main body. It consists of multiple lens groups, such as a focus lens and a zoom lens, as well as an aperture, etc. The image sensor 102 is composed of a CMOS image sensor or CCD image sensor having multiple pixels, and generates an electric charge corresponding to the amount of incident light by performing photoelectric conversion at each pixel with respect to the optical image of the subject formed by the photographic lens 101. As will be described in detail later, the image sensor 102 of this embodiment can be driven by a driving method that outputs a single image signal by applying a single gain to a voltage signal corresponding to the charge generated at each pixel, or by a driving method that outputs multiple image signals by applying multiple different gains to the charge at each pixel . The image acquisition unit 103 acquires the image signal output from the image sensor 102, temporarily holds the acquired image signal, and performs photometry using the acquired image signal. The image synthesis unit 104 generates an HDR (High Dynamic Range) image from the image signal based on the output of the image sensor 102, which is temporarily held in the image acquisition unit 103, using a known synthesis method. For example, for low-luminance image portions below a predetermined signal level, a high-gain image signal or an im