Television – Camera – system and detail – Camera image stabilization
Reexamination Certificate
1996-06-20
2002-03-19
Ho, Tuan (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Camera image stabilization
C348S231900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06359648
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-quality image input apparatus having a motion compensation function.
2. Related Background Art
In a conventional apparatus for obtaining a high-quality image, an optical axis from an object to be photographed is shifted to make a pixel shift and then a plurality of frames are picked up from the same object. These frames are temporarily recorded on a memory. Thereafter, the frames are synthesized into one image.
FIG. 15
is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement of a conventional high-quality image input apparatus.
As shown in
FIG. 15
, the conventional high-quality image input apparatus includes a VAP (Variable Angle Prism)
121
for changing the optical axis for light from an object
111
, a lens system
122
for transmitting light
201
from the VAP
121
, an image pickup device
113
for imaging the object
111
, and an optical axis control device
115
for controlling the VAP
121
.
In addition, this apparatus includes a driver
116
for moving the VAP
121
to a predetermined position upon reception of a VAP control signal
204
output from the optical axis control device
115
, a VAP position detection device
131
for detecting the position of the VAP
121
and feeding back the position of the VAP
121
as VAP position information
213
to the optical axis control device
115
, and a memory selection switch
123
for selecting a plurality of frame memories for recording an image signal
205
from the image pickup device
113
.
The apparatus also includes first frame memory (1)
125
to fourth frame memory (4)
128
for recording the image signal
205
from the image pickup device
113
, and a read selection switch
124
for selecting a read operation of reading data from the first frame memory (1)
125
to fourth frame memory (4)
128
.
The apparatus further includes an image synthesization device
118
for synthesizing a plurality of images read out from the first frame memory (1)
125
to fourth frame memory (4)
128
into one image, and outputting the image as a video signal, a video output terminal
130
for outputting a video signal
210
from the image synthesization device
118
to an external apparatus, and a CPU
119
for controlling the optical axis control device
115
, the memory selection switch
123
, the read selection switch
124
, the image synthesization device
118
, and the like.
Referring to
FIG. 15
, the CPU
119
outputs an optical axis control device control signal
208
, a memory selection switch control signal
211
, a read selection switch control signal
212
, and an image synthesization device control signal
215
.
The arrangement of the VAP
121
will be briefly described below.
FIG. 12
shows the schematic arrangement of the VAP
121
. The VAP
121
is designed to change the optical axis for light from an object in a yawing direction (right and left) and a pitch direction (up and down) by using lenses
301
and
302
.
The lens
301
in the yawing direction is moved when a coil driving circuit
307
drives a coil
303
as a voice coil motor under the control of a control circuit
309
.
The position of the lens
301
is detected by a position sensor
305
and fed back to the control circuit
309
.
In the pitch direction as well, a coil
304
, a coil driving circuit
308
, and a position sensor
306
operate in the same manner as described above. In general, the VAP
121
is mounted in front of a lens system
310
. The VAP
121
can slightly shift an optical axis in the yawing direction (right and left) and the pitch direction (up and down).
The operation of the conventional high-quality image input apparatus will be described next. First of all, the object
111
is imaged by the image pickup device
113
, and the resultant data is stored in a memory. In this case, the memory selection switch
123
selects the first frame memory (1)
125
. The image signal
205
from the image pickup device
113
is therefore recorded on the first frame memory (1)
125
selected by the memory selection switch
123
.
The VAP
121
is then slightly moved in the yawing direction (right) to make a 1-pixel shift in the yawing direction (right). The optical axis control device
115
controls the VAP
121
to shift the image by one pixel in the yawing direction (right).
When the image is shifted by one pixel in the yawing direction (right), the memory selection switch
123
selects the second frame memory (2)
126
. In this case, therefore, the image signal
205
from the image pickup device
113
is recorded on the second frame memory (2)
126
selected by the memory selection switch
123
.
The VAP
121
is then slightly moved in the pitch direction (down) to make a 1-pixel shift in the pitch direction (down). The optical axis control device
115
controls the VAP
121
to shift the image by one pixel in the pitch direction (down).
When the image is shifted by one pixel in the pitch direction (down), the memory selection switch
123
selects the third frame memory (3)
127
. In this case, therefore, the image signal
205
from the image pickup device
113
is recorded on the third frame memory (3)
127
selected by the memory selection switch
123
.
The VAP
121
is then slightly moved in the yawing direction (left) opposite the direction in the previous yawing operation to make a 1-pixel shift in the yawing direction (left). The optical axis control device
115
controls the VAP
121
to shift the image by one pixel in the yawing direction (left) opposite the direction in the previous operation.
When the image is shifted by one pixel in the yawing direction (left) opposite the direction in the previous yawing operation, the memory selection switch
123
selects the fourth frame memory (4)
128
. In this case, therefore, the image signal
205
from the image pickup device
113
is recorded on the fourth frame memory (4)
128
selected by the memory selection switch
123
.
In this manner, the same object is imaged while the object is shifted in the yawing and pitch directions pixel by pixel. The picked-up images are sequentially recorded on the first frame memory (1)
125
to fourth frame memory (4)
128
.
Subsequently, the data recorded on the first frame memory (1)
125
to fourth frame memory (4)
128
are sequentially read out through the read selection switch
124
. The readout data are synthesized into one image by the image synthesization device
118
. The image synthesized by the image synthesization device
118
is output as the video signal
210
from the video output terminal
130
.
FIGS. 13A
,
13
B,
14
A, and
14
B show object images (the portions painted in gray) formed on the image pickup area of a CCD when the optical path of light from the object is changed using an optical axis changing device, i.e., the relationship between an object image P
1
of an original, the image pickup areas of the CCD having a complementary color mosaic filter when the object image P
1
of the original is sequentially shifted by one pixel to the right, a lower right hand direction, and down, and object images formed in the image pickup area.
FIG. 13A
shows the positional relationship between the image pickup area and the object image P
1
of the original.
FIG. 13B
shows the relationship between the image pickup area and an object image P
2
shifted by one pixel to the right with respect to the object image P
1
.
FIG. 14A
shows the relationship between the image pickup area and an object image P
3
shifted by one pixel to the lower right hand direction with respect to the object image P
1
.
FIG. 14B
shows the relationship between the image pickup area and an object image P
4
shifted down by one pixel with respect to the object image P
1
.
Four images of the same object can be obtained by imaging the object while sequentially shifting the object image by one pixel to the right, the lower right hand direction, and down with respect to the object image P
1
in the above manner.
Although these four images are obtained by imaging the same object, the pixels of the ac
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Ho Tuan
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