Television – Camera – system and detail – Combined image signal generator and general image signal...
Reexamination Certificate
1996-08-07
2001-02-27
Garber, Wendy (Department: 2712)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Combined image signal generator and general image signal...
C348S218100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195125
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image sensing apparatus and method using a solid-state image sensing device, such as CCD, and more particularly, to an image sensing apparatus and method realizing high-resolution image sensing by using “pixel shifting technique” and a method of dealing with obtained data of the plurality of images sensed by using the pixel shifting technique.
Conventionally, there are the following methods for increasing image sensing resolution adopted by an image sensing apparatus using a solid-state image sensing device.
(a). Increase the density of pixels in the image sensing device.
(b). Use a plurality of image sensing devices.
(c). Use pixel shifting technique.
Regarding method (a), the method greatly depends upon semiconductor manufacturing technique, thus it does not improve quickly. Further, although the semiconductor manufacturing technique improves, the price of the image sensing device will increase. Regarding method (b), it can be realized relatively easily by using an optical prism, or the like. However, three image sensing devices as well as a large optical member, such as the optical prism, for separating incoming light into three color components which travel different paths from each other are necessary. As a result, the cost for manufacturing an image sensing apparatus increases.
Because of the problems of using methods (a) and (b), method (c), namely pixel shifting technique, has been used for realizing high-resolution image sensing. The pixel shifting technique is that a plurality of images of an object are sensed as shifting image formation positions on the image sensing device, and combined to produce a single high-resolution still image. This technique is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-17134, for example.
As for pixel shifting technique using a single image sensing device, the one disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-863 is known. This discloses a technique to obtain a plurality of images sensed by moving an optical system, image sensing device or an object by a predetermined amount, then combine the obtained plurality of images to produce a single image of high resolution.
However, in the aforementioned conventional pixel shifting techniques, only basic techniques are suggested. Especially, when the pixel shifting is performed by using a single image sensing device, since a color filter is attached, no concrete way of shifting pixels has been described. Furthermore, there were no description on data handling, such as how color processes are performed on obtained image data and whether the high resolution still image sensing is performed while sensing a moving image or not, which have been problems upon developing an image sensing apparatus in practice.
Further, it is possible to obtain images of different resolution depending upon how the pixels are shifted, however, there was no suggestion to change the ways of shifting pixels in accordance with characteristics of the object.
Furthermore, the image sensing apparatus using a solid-state image sensing device focuses on the object, measures light exposure, and adjusts white balance for each sensed image. However, focusing on the object, measurement of light exposure, and correction of white balance have not been exclusively considered for the pixel shifting technique in which a plurality of images are sensed by shifting the relative positions between the image sensing device and the object in the horizontal direction, vertical direction and oblique direction, and combined into a single image of high quality.
In a case of sensing a plurality of images needed for producing a combined high resolution image by using the pixel shifting technique, still life, a stationary object, is generally sensed in most of the cases, and conditions for sensing the images seldom change. Thus, if the focusing on the object, measurement of light exposure, and white balance correction are performed each time when sensing an image of the object to be used for generating a single image of high resolution, errors in measurement and in operation of each detection device may result in changing conditions for sensing the images, thereby making it difficult to combine the plurality of obtained images into a single image of high resolution.
Further, for performing the focusing on the object, measurement of light exposure and white balance correction for each image sensing operation, it is necessary to operate driving circuits. Therefore, time as well as energy of a battery are wasted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has as its object to provide an image sensing apparatus and method having a plurality of image sensing modes for shifting a solid-state image sensing device to different positions so as to be able to obtain images of different resolutions, as well as to provide a data handling method of image data obtained by the aforesaid image sensing apparatus.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an image sensing apparatus which obtains an image of high resolution by using pixel shifting technique, comprising: image sensing means for sensing an image of an object to obtain image data; shifting means for shifting image formation position of the image of the object on the image sensing means; selection means for selecting one of a plurality of image sensing modes each of which performs image sensing operation using different pixel shifting method; and combining means for combining a plurality of sensed images.
With the aforesaid configuration, it is possible for a user to select an image sensing mode which is suitable to an object to be sensed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus capable of making it easier to combine a plurality of images and obtaining an image of high quality with low power consumption.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an image sensing apparatus which obtains an image of high resolution by using pixel shifting technique, comprising: focus control means for controlling focus of image sensing means; exposure control means for controlling exposure of the image sensing means; white balance control means for controlling white balance of image data obtained by the image sensing means; and storage means for storing conditions controlled by the focus control means, the exposure control means and the white balance control means during a first image sensing operation, wherein second and later image sensing operation are performed under the conditions stored in the storage means.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus capable of obtaining a still image of high resolution while sensing a moving image by using pixel shifting technique.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an image sensing apparatus which obtains an image of high resolution by using pixel shifting technique, comprising: image sensing means for sensing an image of an object to obtain image data; shifting means for shifting image formation positions of the image of the object on the image sensing means by a predetermined amount; read control means for controlling timing of reading image data from the image sensing means so as to compensate the shifted predetermined amount; and combining means for combining a plurality of sensed images.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4618990 (1986-10-01), Sieb, Jr. et al.
patent: 4882619 (1989-11-01), Hasegawa et al.
patent: 5402171 (1995-03-01), Tagami et al.
patent: 5418565 (1995-05-01), Smith
patent: 5541648 (1996-07-01), Udagawa et al.
patent: 5734424 (1998-03-01), Sasaki
patent: 5764285 (1998-06-
Ikeda Masato
Udagawa Yoshiro
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Garber Wendy
Harrington Alicia M
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
LandOfFree
Pixel shifting image sensor with a different number of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pixel shifting image sensor with a different number of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pixel shifting image sensor with a different number of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2590697