JP2003069903A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of both progressive reading and interlace reading, that can perform display, revision and image correction in an image quality mode optimum respectively to the progressive reading and the interlace reading. SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus capable of selecting the progressive reading system or the interlace reading system revises all or at least one of the image quality mode, image correction and ISO sensitivity depending on the selected system.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus capable of switching between an interlaced read method and a progressive read method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Imaging devices such as video cameras have been widely used. In recent years, electronic still cameras that mainly capture and record still images have come into widespread use especially as digital cameras, and video movies that were mainly used for recording moving images have come to have a still image capturing and recording function.

As an image pickup device, an interlaced readout (interlaced scanning) CCD (interlaced scan) having a vertical transfer stage that is half the number of vertical pixels (the number of lines) of all the pixels (one frame image) used since the moving image era. Progressive reading in which charges of pixels corresponding to one frame can be simultaneously transferred by providing the same number of vertical transfer stages (the number of lines) of the one-frame image as the number of vertical pixels (also called a read-capable CCD imager). A CCD of a (sequential scanning) type (also referred to as a progressive read (sequential scanning) compatible CCD imager) is known.

In the interlaced readout type CCD, an image picked up by the CCD is sequentially transferred at different timings for each of the first and second fields by the vertical transfer path to divide the pixel information corresponding to one frame into two. The RGB image can be read out by a single read in the case of a progressive reading type CCD, whereas an RGB image can be taken out by a single reading, so that an ultra-high-speed shutter that cannot be achieved by a mechanical shutter can be realized. Is.

On the other hand, CC of interlaced read system
A digital camera capable of progressive reading using the D has also been developed. Such a camera capable of both interlaced reading and progressive reading has a CCD capable of accumulating charges of pixels corresponding to one frame as an image sensor, and the CCD is driven in interlaced reading. Then, the charges of all the pixels corresponding to one frame are divided into the first and second fields, and the charges are sequentially transferred at different timings for each of the first and second fields to be transferred by the vertical transfer path to correspond to one frame. Pixel information to be read is field-sequentially read.
On the other hand, in the progressive reading, the CCD is driven to thin out and read out all the pixels corresponding to one frame, and the charges due to the lines of a required number of pixels for obtaining RGB information are simultaneously read in the vertical direction. It is transferred to the transfer path and read. In progressive reading in this case, the number of vertical transfer paths is limited to the number of field lines for interlaced reading because the vertical transfer path is also used for interlaced reading, and the number of driven pixels is 1/2 of the total number of pixels. The thinning-out reading is limited to.

The advantage of performing progressive reading using the CCD of the interlaced reading system is that, as in the case of the CCD of the original progressive reading system, an RGB image can be taken out by one reading, so that it is very fast. It is possible to realize a shutter. As a result, it is possible to increase the continuous shooting speed by using the progressive reading method, for example, during continuous shooting.

[0007]

By the way, in the image pickup apparatus which is capable of progressive reading by using the CCD of the interlaced reading system, the progressive reading is thinning-out reading, so that the maximum image quality is the same as the interlaced reading for reading all pixels. In order to obtain, it is necessary to interpolate and expand the image signal obtained by progressive reading, but the image signal obtained by interpolation should have the same number of pixels (image quality as the raw image signal obtained by interlaced reading). ) Is not desirable (because it is interpolated). Therefore, it is necessary to display and change the image quality mode and to perform image correction different from the interlaced readout in which all pixels are read out.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in an image pickup apparatus capable of both interlaced read and progressive read,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of displaying and changing an image quality mode optimum for each of the reading methods of progressive reading and interlaced reading, and performing image correction.

[0009]

An image pickup device according to the present invention comprises an image pickup device capable of accumulating charges of pixels corresponding to one frame and all pixels corresponding to the one frame by driving the image pickup device. The interlaced reading means for performing interlaced reading in which all the pixel information corresponding to the one frame is field-sequentially read out by dividing the electric charges of the plurality of fields into a plurality of fields and sequentially transferring the plurality of fields through the vertical transfer paths at different timings. When,
A progressive reading means for driving the image pickup device to progressively read out the charges of a required number of pixels out of all the pixels corresponding to the one frame to the vertical transfer path at the same time, and the progressive reading and the interlaced reading. And a picture quality mode changing means for changing the picture quality mode according to the switching operation by the switching means.

According to the present invention, since progressive reading is thinning-out reading, the maximum number of pixels of an image obtained by progressive reading is also taken into consideration, and in progressive reading mode, the number of pixels (image quality) different from that of interlaced reading is displayed. To change the image quality mode.

An image pickup device according to the present invention comprises an image pickup element capable of accumulating charges of pixels corresponding to one frame,
The image pickup device is driven to divide the charges of all pixels corresponding to the one frame into a plurality of fields, and the charges are sequentially transferred at different timings for each of the plurality of fields by a vertical transfer path to correspond to the one frame. An interlaced reading means for performing interlaced reading for reading out all pixel information field-sequentially, and driving the image sensor to transfer charges of a required number of pixels out of all pixels corresponding to the one frame to the vertical transfer path at the same time. Progressive read-out means for performing progressive read-out, read-out switching means for switching between the progressive read-out and the interlaced read-out, image correction means for correcting the image of the image sensor, and an image correction algorithm according to the switching operation by the switching means. Change image supplement Those having a algorithm changing means.

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform the optimum image correction for both reading methods. As the image correction, for example, pixel defect correction or edge enhancement correction is performed.

An image pickup device according to the present invention comprises an image pickup element capable of accumulating charges of pixels corresponding to one frame,
The image pickup device is driven to divide the charges of all pixels corresponding to the one frame into a plurality of fields, and the charges are sequentially transferred at different timings for each of the plurality of fields by a vertical transfer path to correspond to the one frame. An interlaced reading means for performing interlaced reading for reading out all pixel information field-sequentially, and driving the image sensor to transfer charges of a required number of pixels out of all pixels corresponding to the one frame to the vertical transfer path at the same time. A progressive reading means for performing progressive reading, a switching means for switching between the progressive reading and the interlaced reading, a sensitivity setting means for setting the image sensitivity of the image sensor, and the sensitivity according to the switching operation by the switching means. Sensitivity changing means to change, Those that had.

According to the present invention, it is possible to set the optimum image sensitivity for both reading methods.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Before describing an embodiment of an image pickup apparatus of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, interlaced readout and progressive readout of a CCD will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, an interline transfer type CCD is used as the image pickup device. CCD
Is a two-dimensionally arrayed in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, the light receiving portion 15 which is composed of a photodiode having a photoelectric conversion function for accumulating electric charges upon incidence of light, and the electric charges accumulated in the light receiving portion 15. It has a vertical transfer section 16 for sequentially transferring in the vertical direction using a vertical transfer pulse, and a horizontal transfer section 17 for sequentially transferring charges transferred by the vertical transfer section 16 in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining interlaced reading in the CCD. FIG. 8A shows the read state of the first field, and FIG. 8B shows the read state of the second field. The pixel array of the CCD is a Bayer array. The Bayer array is
G that requires high resolution is arranged in a checkered pattern, and R, and
Each B is arranged in a checkered pattern.

In the interlaced read mode,
As shown in FIG. 8A, the GRGR ... Lines are read in the first field, and then the GBGB ... Lines are read in the second field to the vertical transfer path shielded from aluminum as shown in FIG. 8B. RG of one frame is obtained by these two readings.
The B image data will be read. Here, mechanical light shielding is required so as not to be exposed during the reading of the first field and the second field. That is, in the interlaced read mode, it is necessary to use a mechanical shutter as the shutter. Therefore, the high speed limit of the mechanical shutter becomes the high speed limit of the shutter speed. For example, 1/500 seconds is the high speed limit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining progressive reading in the CCD. Progressive read is
Although the thinning-out reading is performed, as shown in FIG. 9, GRGBG is set so that the RGB image data can be read by one reading.
Since the RGB ... Lines are read onto the vertical transfer path shielded from aluminum, the shutter speed can be determined by reading the electronic shutter onto the vertical transfer path. That is,
In the progressive reading mode, a high-speed shutter with an electronic shutter can be realized.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the structure of a digital camera as an image pickup apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 10, a subject image from a subject 21 passes through an image pickup lens 22 and a mechanical shutter 23, and a CC
An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup device 24 such as D. Image sensor 24
The image pickup signal photoelectrically converted in is supplied to the digital process circuit 25. The digital process circuit 25 has the above-mentioned progressive (PS) read function and interlace (IS) read function, and electronic shutter control (readout transfer control based on vertical transfer pulses in PS, IS reading) for the image sensor 24. ),
The read signal is stored in the frame memory 26 and simultaneously displayed on the image information display unit 27 such as a liquid crystal panel. Then, the image data stored in the frame memory 26 is compressed by the compression / expansion circuit 28 and is selected by the selector 29, for example, the first card interface circuit 3
6 through the first memory card 3 in the first slot 37
8 is recorded as compressed image data. This camera is provided with two card interface circuits 36 and 4 for the first and second cards.
It has 0 and can be selected by the selector 29. The second card interface circuit 40 is connected to the second memory card 42 mounted in the second slot 41. The system controller 30 includes the digital process circuit 25, a shutter control circuit 31 for controlling opening / closing of the mechanical shutter 23, a memory controller 33 for controlling the frame memory 26, an EEPROM 34 as a non-volatile memory, and a user interface including a menu. The switch (SW) means 32, the calendar circuit 35 for counting the date and time, the first slot attachment detecting means 39 of the first slot 37, and the second slot attachment detecting means 43 of the second slot 41 are connected. .. The system controller 30 reads the digital process circuit 25 in the PS read mode or IS
The SW means 3 is instructed whether to read in the read mode.
It detects what kind of settings are made including the menu from 2 and controls the hardware based on this.

By setting the control register in the digital process circuit 25 by the system controller 30,
The CCD read mode can be changed. That is,
It is possible to switch between IS reading and PS reading. As the control registers, there are a timing counter for resetting a CCD, a transfer path high-speed sweep timing counter, a vertical transfer timing counter, and an IS / PS read mode set register. By setting these values, the system controller 30 can set the IS / PS Control read control.

FIG. 11 shows a timing chart for interlaced reading. 11 (a) is a vertical transfer pulse, FIG. 11 (b) is the opening / closing of the mechanical shutter 23, and FIG. 11 (c).
Is a shutter close signal from the shutter control circuit 31,
FIG. 11D shows the interlaced read operation.

In the interlaced read mode shown in FIG. 11, the CCD charge is constantly discharged during the CCD reset period until the release button (shutter button) is pressed, and the charge is zero. This is done with the mechanical shutter open. Then, when the release button is pressed, exposure is performed for a predetermined period until the CCD reset is released and the mechanical shutter is completely closed, and then a shutter close signal is issued from the shutter control circuit 31, and the shutter close signal is output, as shown in FIG. The mechanical shutter 23 is closed as shown in FIG. Then, the state where the mechanical shutter 23 completely shields the light is maintained, and during the shutter close maintaining period, first, the transfer path is quickly swept out (high-speed sweeping of unnecessary charges accumulated in the transfer path), and then FIG. The vertical transfer operation is performed by the vertical transfer pulse as shown in (a), and the first field is read. Next, as in the case of the first field, after performing high-speed sweeping of the transfer path, vertical transfer is performed by the second vertical transfer pulse to read the second field, and then the mechanical shutter 23
Will open again.

FIG. 12 shows a timing chart of progressive reading. 12 (a) is the vertical transfer pulse, FIG. 12 (b) is the opening / closing of the mechanical shutter 23, and FIG. 12 (c).
Is a shutter close signal from the shutter control circuit 31,
FIG. 12D shows a progressive read operation.

In the progressive read mode shown in FIG. 12, CCD charges are constantly discharged during the CCD reset period until the release button (shutter button) is pressed, and the charge is in a zero state. This is done with the mechanical shutter open. Then, when the release button is pressed, CCD reset is released and exposure is performed for a very short period (for example, 1/15000 seconds), and then high-speed sweeping of unnecessary charges accumulated in the transfer path is performed.
With the vertical transfer pulse as shown in FIG. 12A, the exposure charge is sent to the vertical transfer path that is not exposed to light at a time to perform progressive field reading (progressive reading of the number of field lines excluding thinned pixel lines). Also in this case, the shutter close signal is output from the shutter control circuit 31 after the exposure, but the electronic shutter has already been turned off by the high-speed sweeping of the transfer path and the vertical transfer operation performed after the exposure. In the read mode, precise timing is not required for closing the mechanical shutter 23 by the shutter close signal. That is, since the exposure charge is instantaneously transferred to the transfer path shielded by the electronic shutter operation, and progressive reading is performed from the transfer section subsequently, the role of the mechanical shutter 23 in this mode is strong in the reading period. It suffices if it plays a role of preventing light from entering and entering the light-shielded transfer path.

The embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The imaging device is, for example, a digital camera.

Referring to FIG. 1, an image pickup device includes a charge-coupled device (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 1 as an image pickup device and a CCD.
1 for interlace reading the image-capturing charge of the CCD 1, progressive reading means 3 for progressively reading the image-capturing charge of the CCD 1, CCD reading method switching means 4 for switching the reading method, and CCD reading method switching means 4 A CCD read method changing means 5 by a menu setting or the like for issuing a change command to switch between the progressive read method and the interlace read method, and an image quality mode change for changing the image quality mode according to the change operation by the change means 4. And means 6 and.

The CCD 1 as an image pickup device is capable of accumulating charges of pixels corresponding to one frame. C
The CD 1 has a pixel number of, for example, 5 megapixels (Mpixel).

The interlaced reading means 2 is a CCD
1 is driven to divide the charges of all pixels corresponding to the 1 frame into a plurality of (usually 2) fields, and the charges are transferred by the vertical transfer paths at different timings for each of the plurality of fields to form one frame. Is a driving means for performing interlaced reading in which pixel information corresponding to is read out in a field sequential manner. As described above, in the interlaced read mode, the mechanical shutter is used as the shutter for adjusting the exposure, so the shutter speed of the image pickup device is determined by the speed of the mechanical shutter.

The progressive reading means 3 is a CCD
1 is driven to perform field reading by thinning out pixels out of all pixels corresponding to one frame.
It is a driving means for performing progressive reading in which charges by a predetermined number of pixel lines necessary for obtaining B information are simultaneously transferred to the vertical transfer path and read out. As described above, in the progressive reading mode, the electronic shutter functions as a shutter for adjusting the exposure, and thus a high-speed shutter is realized.

The reading method switching means 4 is a means for switching between the progressive reading and the interlaced reading.

The CCD reading method changing means 5 as a selecting means enables selection between the progressive reading method and the interlaced reading method, and issues a switching command to the reading method switching means 4 to switch between the two reading methods. Give instructions.

The image quality mode changing means 6 changes the image quality mode according to the switching operation of the reading method by the switching means 4. When the mode is switched to the progressive reading mode, the image quality mode is restricted (changed). ) Do.

In the configuration of FIG. 1, since progressive reading is thinning-out reading, in order to obtain the same maximum image quality as interlaced reading for reading all pixels, it is necessary to interpolate and expand the image signal by progressive reading. However, it is not desirable to display the image signal obtained by interpolation with the same number of pixels (image quality) as the raw image signal obtained by interlaced reading. This is because the interpolation is performed. Therefore, considering the maximum number of pixels of the raw image obtained by progressive reading,
In the progressive reading mode, the image quality mode is changed so that the number of pixels (image quality) different from that in the interlaced reading can be displayed. That is, the image quality mode can be displayed and changed according to the switching of the reading method.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the image quality mode of the digital camera. The image quality mode is the image pixel size (number of pixels) and the image file format JPEG.
It is expressed in combination with the compression rate. There are 2560 x 1920, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768, and 640 x 480 pixels as the pixel size.The larger the number of pixels, the larger the image size and resolution, and the smaller the number of pixels, the smaller the image size and resolution. Is reduced. In addition, JPEG
There are 1/1 (uncompressed), 1 / 2.7, 1/4, and 1/8 compression rates. The higher the compression rate, the more images that can be written to the card memory, but the higher the compression rate. If done too much, various noises will appear and the image quality will not be good.

The image quality modes are RAW, TIFF,
SHQ (abbreviation of Super High Quality), HQ (High Quali
TY) and SQ (Standard Quality). RA
W is a mode for recording the pixel data (Bayer data) read out from the CCD as it is, when the pixel array of the CCD is a Bayer array. TIFF is a mode for recording uncompressed data, SHQ is a mode with the lowest number of pixels (eg, 5Mpixel) that can be created by CCD (eg compression rate 1 / 2.7), and HQ is the highest number of pixels. The mode has the highest compression rate (for example, 5 Mpixels) (for example, the compression rate is 1/8), and SQ is a mode in which the number of pixels such as SVGA and VGA is small.

FIG. 3 shows the image quality mode names displayed on the liquid crystal panel or the like according to the change (switching) of the CCD read mode. FIG. 3 (a) shows a list of image quality mode names of image quality modes that can be executed in the interlaced read mode (simply referred to as IS mode), and FIG. 3 (b) shows a progressive read mode (simply referred to as PS mode).
A list of image quality mode names of image quality modes that can be executed is shown. In IS mode, all pixels of CCD (eg 5
However, in the PS mode, the vertical resolution drops to about half of that in the IS mode because the image is captured in half of all pixels of the CCD (eg, 2.5 Mpixel) in the PS mode. The image quality that can be switched in the IS mode is RAW, TIFF, SHQ, HQ, as shown in FIG.
There are five SQs, and the image quality that can be switched in the PS mode is limited to three, SHQ, HQ, and SQ, as shown in FIG. This is because in the PS mode, it is meaningless to set the RAW as a mode because the RAW with the Bayer data as it is is half-crushed, and for the TIFF, there is a meaning in non-compression with the total number of pixels in the IS mode. For the reason.

In order to change the image quality mode name as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), each set value of the image quality mode is stored in the storage means individually for the CCD reading mode (IS, PS mode).
Each time the CCD read mode is changed, the image is displayed based on the stored value, so that the image quality mode name corresponding to the CCD read mode is displayed. The number of possible shots is also changed each time the image quality name is changed. This is because the number of pixels read from the CCD is smaller (half) in the PS mode than in the IS mode, and the number of recordable images that can be recorded in the memory having the same capacity can be increased.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the imaging device is
CCD 1 as an image sensor, interlaced readout means 2 for interlaced readout of the imaged charge of CCD 1, progressive readout means 3 for progressively read out the imaged charge of CCD 1, and CCD readout method switching means 4 for switching the readout method. , A CCD reading method changing means 5 by a menu setting or the like for issuing a switching command to the CCD reading method switching means 4 to instruct switching between the progressive reading method and the interlaced reading method, and an image correcting means for creating correction data for defective pixels Pixel defect correction means 7, an IS pixel defect address storage means 8 for storing which pixel among all the pixels in the CCD pixel array is crushed (in the IS mode), and the defective pixel in the PS mode. And pixel defect address mapping means 9 as an image correction algorithm changing means for mapping to the thinning readout) in terms address is configured to have a.

In the digital camera, in the IS mode,
The IS pixel defect address storage means 8 stores the address of the pixel data of all the pixels in the CCD Bayer pixel array as shown in FIG.

In the PS mode, since the thinning-out reading does not make sense what the address of all the pixels is, the pixel defect address mapping means 9 uses the I
The address in the IS mode read out from the S pixel defect address storage means 8 is progressively converted (algorithm calculation) so as to correspond to the IS mode, and the number of the address data which is crushed is remapped. That is, the pixel defect address mapping means 9 changes the address mapping of the pixel defect stored in the IS pixel defect address storage means 8 in the PS mode and notifies the pixel defect correction means 7.

The pixel defect correcting means 7 reads out the correction data for replacing the defective pixel at the pixel defect address indicated by the pixel defect address mapping means 9 from the CCD in accordance with each of the IS and PS modes, to the defective pixel. Created using adjacent pixel data.

Since the other components are the same as those in FIG. 1, the description thereof will be omitted.

According to the configuration of FIG. 4, it is possible to perform the image defect correction optimum for both reading methods.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the image pickup device is
CCD 1 as an image sensor, interlaced readout means 2 for interlaced readout of the imaged charge of CCD 1, progressive readout means 3 for progressively read out the imaged charge of CCD 1, and CCD readout method switching means 4 for switching the readout method. , CCD reading method changing means 5 by a menu setting or the like for issuing a switching command to the CCD reading method switching means 4 to instruct switching between the progressive reading method and the interlaced reading method, and the CCD 1.
, P if the pixel array of P is Bayer
Bayer / YC conversion means 10 for converting the Bayer data read from the CCD in accordance with each mode of S into YC data (data described by Y, Cb, Cr (brightness, color difference b, color difference r)), and Bayer / YC conversion means 10. An edge enhancement degree changing means 11 as an image correction algorithm changing means for changing the edge enhancement degree (sharpness) according to each of the IS and PS modes at the time of YC conversion is configured.

The Bayer / YC conversion means 10 converts the Bayer data into YC data, and includes an image correction algorithm (image quality correction means). YC data is
The data is described by Y, Cb, and Cr (brightness, color difference b, color difference r), and is data that can be viewed as an image on a personal computer monitor or the like.

When the Bayer data is converted into YC data, the edge emphasis degree changing means 11 applies sharpness to the image to make it look like it is in focus, which is called edge emphasis. Is calculated, the brightness is extremely changed, and YC data is created. Therefore, in the PS mode, the inter-pixel distance is farther than in the IS mode, and therefore the degree of change in brightness is larger than that in the case of being closer in distance, so that the edge emphasis is performed. When you apply
The result is a grainy image with too much edge enhancement.

Therefore, when switching to the PS mode,
The edge emphasis degree changing means 11 changes the coefficient so as to lower the edge emphasis degree and controls the Bayer / YC conversion means 10.
As a result, it becomes possible for the Bayer / YC conversion means 10 to perform edge enhancement correction that is optimal for both reading methods.

The other structure and operation are the same as those in FIG.

By the way, when the progressive reading is performed by the normal thinning process, the pixel sampling interval becomes large, which causes jaggies. Therefore, in order to eliminate this drawback, as shown in FIG.
A method in which pixels are added and read out is conceivable.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the progressive pixel addition reading method. In FIG. 6, the thinned pixel GRGBGRGB ... Lines (see FIG. 9) are the pixels of the same color (that is, G, G, and R indicated by thick line arrows) with respect to the pixel GRGBGRGB ... Lines that are read out during progressive reading. R, B and B) are added and read.

At this time, if pixel addition is performed, the sensitivity increases, so that the ISO sensitivity is changed in conjunction with the CCD reading method as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the image pickup apparatus is
CCD 1 as an image pickup device, interlace reading means 2 for interlacing readout of image pickup charges of CCD 1, and progressive reading means 3A for performing pixel addition reading as shown in FIG. 6 when progressively reading image pickup charges of CCD 1. , CCD reading method switching means 4 for switching the reading method, and CC
D reading method switching means 4 issues a switching command to instruct switching between the progressive reading method and interlaced reading method, CCD reading method changing means 5 by menu setting, etc., and ISO sensitivity setting means for setting the image sensitivity of CCD 1. 12 and an ISO sensitivity changing unit 13 that changes the sensitivity according to the switching operation of the switching unit 4.

The progressive reading means 3A has a CC
When the D read mode switching means 4 is switched to the IS mode, the two pixel addition read as shown in FIG. 6 is performed.

The ISO sensitivity setting means 12 is, for example, a read signal obtained by reading by the interlaced read means 2 or a progressive read means 3A.
The signal gain as sensitivity is set with respect to the read signal obtained by performing the two-pixel addition reading in.

The ISO sensitivity changing means 13 changes the sensitivity according to the switching operation by the CCD reading method switching means 4, and when the reading mode is switched to the progressive reading mode, the sensitivity by the two-pixel addition reading is particularly high. The set sensitivity of the ISO sensitivity setting means 12 is changed so as to reduce the increase.

The ISO sensitivity referred to in the present embodiment means a sensitivity corresponding to a value converted into a standard (ISO photographic sensitivity standard) defined by the International Organization for Standardization ISO.

The rest of the configuration is the same as that of FIG.

According to the configuration of FIG. 7, it is possible to set the optimum ISO sensitivity for both reading methods.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the image pickup apparatus capable of both the interlaced readout and the progressive readout, the display of the optimum image quality mode for each of the progressive readout and the interlaced readout. Also, it becomes possible to make changes and image corrections.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image quality mode of a digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a changed state of an image quality mode name displayed on a liquid crystal panel or the like according to a change of a CCD reading mode.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an imaging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a progressive pixel addition reading method.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an imaging device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating interlaced reading in a CCD.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating progressive reading in a CCD.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital camera as an image pickup apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart of interlaced reading.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart of progressive reading.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CCD (imaging device) 2 ... Interlaced reading means 3 ... Progressive reading means 4 ... CCD reading method switching means 5 ... CCD reading method changing means 6 ... Image quality mode changing means 7 ... Pixel defect correction means 8 ... IS pixel defect address storage means 9 ... Pixel defect address mapping means 10 ... Bayer / YC conversion means 11 ... Edge enhancement degree changing means 12 ... ISO sensitivity setting means 13 ... ISO sensitivity changing means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup device capable of accumulating charges of pixels corresponding to one frame, and driving the image pickup device to divide the charges of all pixels corresponding to the one frame into a plurality of fields. Interlace reading means for performing interlace reading in which field information is sequentially read from all pixel information corresponding to the one frame by sequentially transferring the plurality of fields through the vertical transfer path at different timings; Of all the pixels corresponding to a frame, progressive reading means for performing progressive reading of charges of a required number of pixels simultaneously transferred to the vertical transfer path, switching means for switching between the progressive reading and the interlaced reading, and the switching means. Image quality mode An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image quality mode changing unit for changing the mode. 2. An image pickup device capable of accumulating charges of pixels corresponding to one frame, and driving the image pickup device to divide the charges of all pixels corresponding to the one frame into a plurality of fields. Interlace reading means for performing interlace reading in which field information is sequentially read from all pixel information corresponding to the one frame by sequentially transferring the plurality of fields through the vertical transfer path at different timings; Of all the pixels corresponding to a frame, a progressive reading unit that performs progressive reading of charges of a required number of pixels simultaneously transferred to the vertical transfer path, a switching unit that switches between the progressive reading and the interlaced reading, and the image sensor Image correction means for correcting the image of Serial switching means imaging apparatus characterized by having an image correction algorithm changing unit for changing an algorithm for image correction, the according to the switching operation by. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image correction is pixel defect correction. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image correction is edge enhancement correction. 5. An image pickup device capable of accumulating charges of pixels corresponding to one frame, and driving the image pickup device to divide the charges of all pixels corresponding to the one frame into a plurality of fields. Interlace reading means for performing interlace reading in which field information is sequentially read from all pixel information corresponding to the one frame by sequentially transferring the plurality of fields through the vertical transfer path at different timings; Of all the pixels corresponding to a frame, a progressive reading unit that performs progressive reading of charges of a required number of pixels simultaneously transferred to the vertical transfer path, a switching unit that switches between the progressive reading and the interlaced reading, and the image sensor Sensitivity setting means to set the sensitivity of the image of An image pickup apparatus comprising: a sensitivity changing unit that changes the sensitivity according to a switching operation performed by the switching unit.