GB2330721A

GB2330721A - Movement detection

Info

Publication number: GB2330721A
Application number: GB9823021A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Manabu Ituki; Youichi Takeshima; Kouichiro Oshikawa; Makoto Koura
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Engineering Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Engineering Co Ltd
Priority date: 1997-10-23
Filing date: 1998-10-22
Publication date: 1999-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-22
Also published as: GB2330721B; JPH11127380A; DE19849046A1; GB9823021D0

Abstract

An image pickup apparatus detects the movement of a subject. A movement detecting section 8 detects a focus signal representing the degree of focusing to a subject from the picture signal output from gain control LED signal and detects the change amount, and a movement identifying section 9 compares the change amount of the focus signal with a standard value set beforehand and judges the presence of movement of a picture in the aimed field of view. In an alternative embodiment movement is detected from the ratio of a colour component after white balance.

Description

IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and, more particularly, to a function of judging the change of a subject in an image pickup apparatus having a black-and-white or color light receiving section.

DescriPtion of Related Art Fig. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional image pickup apparatus disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-200086. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an-image pickup lens, 201 denotes a shutter for controlling the passage and interception of optical information to be picked up, 2 denotes a diaphragm for regulating the quantity of light to a proper value, 202 denotes a transmitted light wavelength selecting means for selecting a wavelength corresponding to at least three different color lights, 3 denotes an image pickup device, 203 denotes a buffer, 7 denotes an A/D converter, 204 denotes a signal processing circuit, 205 denotes a memory, 207 denotes a timing controller, 206 denotes a mechanism system drive unit for controlling the movement of the shutter 201 and the movable section of the transmitted light wavelength selecting means 202 on the basis of a timing signal generated from the timing controller 207, and 208 denotes an external trigger input terminal.

The following is a description of the operation. It is now assumed that a trigger signal such as 241 in Fig. 19 is applied to the external trigger input terminal 208. At this time, the timing controller 207 calculates a shutter speed and lens opening value on the basis of the quantity of light of a subject, the sensitivity of image pickup device, the image pickup conditions set from the outside, and the like, and transmits a signal showing the time when the shutter 201 is opened, such as 242 in Fig. 19, to the mechanism system drive unit 206. TS in Fig. 19 indicates the period of time for which the shutter 201 is open. On the basis of the control signal 242, the mechanism system drive unit 206 controls the opening/closing of the shutter 201 and controls the diaphragm 2 so as to provide a proper quantity of light. Therefore, the light from the subject passes through the image pickup lens 1 and enters the transmitted light wavelength selecting means 202 while the quantity of light being restricted by the diaphragm 2 only when the shutter 201 is open.

The transmitted light wavelength selecting means 202 is composed of color filters, for example, corresponding to three colors of R (red), G (green) and B (blue) as shown in Fig. 18, and rotates in the direction of the arrow mark 230. TR, TG and TB in Fig. 15 indicate the period of time for which the color filters corresponding to R, G and B, respectively, operate. The timing controller 207 divides the period of time TS for which the shutter 201 is open into three of TR, TG and TB, and sends control signals 243, 244 and 245 containing these pieces of information to the mechanism system drive unit 206. The mechanism system drive unit 206 controls the transmitted light wavelength selecting means 202 on the basis of the control signals 243, 244 and 245, and transmits the light having a spectral component of R for the period of TR, the light having a spectral component of Gforthe period of TC, and the light having a spectral component of B for the period of TB.

The image pickup device 3, recQiving the light having the spectral component of R, G and B, converts these components into electrical signals in succession, and transmits the electrical signals to the signal processing device 204 via the buffer 203 and A/D converter 7.

The signal processing device 204, receiving the electrical signal corresponding to the light having the spectral component of R, G and B, carries out predetermined processing for synthesis, and then yields a color image. The memory 205 records the color image.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Obiect of the Invention Since the conventional image pickup apparatus is configured as described above, a sensor must be provided on the outside to secure a picture signal of a particular event in security applications and the like. Also, it is necessary to control the image pickup apparatus or a recording medium connected to the image pickup apparatus by means of a trigger signal generated from the sensor. Therefore, the apparatus presents a problem in that an expensive large-scale system is needed and other problems.

The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and accordingly an object thereof is to provide an inexpensive image pickup apparatus which does not need an external sensor, a memory unit for detecting a change of a subject, and the like, especially does not need an external additional circuit, by controlling the image pickup apparatus, a recording medium connected to the image pickup apparatus, and the like by the image pickup apparatus itself by 'detecting the movement of the aimed subject from information such as the change in luminance signal level, change in picture signal frequency component, change in color signal level, change in ratio of high luminance signal component to low luminance signal component, change in image pickup illuminance, and the like by the image pickup apparatus itself and generating a trigger signal to the outside.

Summarv of the Invention An image pickup apparatus in accordance with the invention defined in claim 1 comprises an image pickup lens, an image pickup device having a light receiving section for converting an optical image formed by the image pickup lens into an electrical signal, an image pickup device driving section for driving the image pickup device, a signal processing section for converting the output signal of the image pickup device into a picture signal, and a gain control section for attenuating or amplifying the output signal of the signal processing section to a proper level. The apparatus further comprises a movement detecting section for detecting a focus signal representing the degree of focusing to a subject from the picture signal regulated to a proper signal level by the gain control section and for detecting the change amount, and compares the change amount of the focus signal generated by the movement detecting section with a standard value set beforehand to judge the presence of movement of a picture in the aimed field of view.

An image pickup apparatus in accordance with the invention defined in claim 2 comprises an image pickup lens, an image pickup device having a light receiving section for converting an optical image formed by the image pickup lens into an electrical signal, an image pickup device driving section for driving the image pickup device, a signal processing section for converting the output signal of the image pickup device into a picture signal, and a gain control section for attenuating or amplifying the output signal of the signal processing section to a proper level. The apparatus further comprises a color signal detecting section for detecting a color signal or a primary color component from the picture signal regulated to a proper signal level by the gain control section, and a movement detecting section for extracting a time-related change amount of the ratio of the color signal or the primary color component generated from the color signal detecting section, and compares the time-related change amount of the ratio of the color signal or the primary color component output from the movement detecting section with a standard value set beforehand to judge the presence of movement of a picture in the aimed field of view.

An image pickup apparatus in accordance with the invention defined in claim 3 comprises an image pickup lens, an image pickup device having a light receiving section for converting an optical image formed by the image pickup lens into an electrical signal, an image pickup device driving section for driving the image pickup device, a signal processing section for converting the output signal of the image pickup device into a picture signal, and a gain control section for attenuating or amplifying the output signal of the signal processing section to a proper level. The apparatus further comprises a lighting condition detecting section for identifying an environmental change independent of the movement of the subject, such as a change of frequency component of a particular band from the output signal of the signal processing section and a change of lighting condition from the area occupied by a high luminance component and a low luminance component of the picture signal, and a movement identifying section for judging only the presence of movement of the subject.

An image pickup apparatus in accordance with the invention defined in claim 4 comprises an image pickup lens, an image pickup device having a light receiving section for converting an optical image formed by the image pickup lens into an electrical signal, an image pickup device driving section for driving the image pickup device, a signal processing section for converting the output signal of the image pickup device into a picture signal, a light quantity control section for regulating the quantity of light incident from the image pickup lens to the image pickup device, and a gain control section for attenuating or amplifying the output signal of the signal processing section to a proper level, and judges an environmental change independent of the movement of the subject, such as a change of lighting condition, from the outputs of the light quantity control section and the gain control section and actually judges only the presence of movement of a picture in the aimed field of view.

An image pickup apparatus in accordance with the invention defined in claim 5 further comprises a detection range setting section which can beforehand change the detection range of the movement detecting section with respect to the field of view from the image taken into the image pickup device, the movement detecting section generates an output signal from only the subject range set by the detection range setting section, and the movement identifying section judges the presence of movement of a picture in a predetermined range of the aimed subject from this signal.

An image pickup apparatus in accordance with the invention defined in claim 6 further comprises a level setting section which can change the standard value by which the movement identifying section judges.

An image pickup apparatus in. accordance with the invention defined in claim 7 further comprises a movement identifying section for generating a trigger signal, which is a judgment signal for judging the presence of movement of the aimed subject, and a trigger signal synthesizing section for synthesizing the picture signal and the trigger signal, and the trigger signal synthesizing section generates the trigger signal by overlapping with the picture signal.

An image pickup apparatus in accordance with the invention defined in claim 8 is configured so that the movement identifying section includes an evaluated value filtering section for executing filtering to determine a time-related resolving power with respect to the signal generated from the movement detecting section, and the evaluated value filtering section executes filtering with respect to the output of the movement detecting section and judges the presence of the movement of picture with respect to the aimed subject by comparing the filtered signal with the set standard value.

An image pickup apparatus in accordance with the invention defined in claim 9 is configured so that an image pickup environment such as the lighting condition of the subject whose image is being picked up is detected from a controlled variable of the gain control section, the range of a signal level higher or lower than a standard value set beforehand in a level setting section is extracted from among luminance signals, and the range of the subject judged by the detection range setting section is set automatically in the range, by which the presence of movement of a picture is judged with respect to the aimed subject.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 3 of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the details of a focus signal detecting section in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the details of a movement detecting section in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the details of a movement identifying section in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the details of a color signal detecting section in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the details of a movement detecting section in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 3 of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the details of a lighting condition detecting section in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing the details of a focus signal detecting section in Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 4 of the present invention; Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing the details of a focus signal detecting section in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 5 of the present invention; Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 6 of the present invention; Fig. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 7 of the present invention; Fig. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 8 of the present invention; Fig. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional image pickup apparatus; Fig. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a rotating color filter in the conventional image pickup apparatus; and Fig. 19 is a diagram showing operation signal waveforms in the conventional image pickup apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1: Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus in accordance with the Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an image pickup lens, 2 denotes an image pickup device for converting an optical image formed by the image pickup lens 1 into an electrical signal, 3 denotes an image pickup device driving circuit for driving the image pickup device 2, 4 denotes a light quantity control section for regulating the quantity of light incident from the image pickup lens 1 to the image pickup device 2, 5 denotes a signal processing section for converting an output signal of the image pickup device 2 into a picture signal, 6 denotes a gain control section for controlling an output signal of the signal processing section 5 to a picture signal of a proper level, 7 denotes a focus signal detecting section for extracting a luminance signal from the picture signal generated from the signal processing section 5 to produce a focus signal, 8 denotes a movement detecting section for detecting the change amount of picture signal from the output signal of the focus signal detecting section 7, and 9 denotes a movement identifying section for detecting the movement of a subject from the output signal of the movement detecting section 8.

The following is a description of the operation of the Embodiment 1.

An optical image entering through the image pickup lens 1 is converted into an electrical signal by the image pickup device 2. At this time, the light quantity control section 4 operates as an ALC circuit (automatic light control circuit) for detecting the output signal of the image pickup device 2 and regulating it so that the quantity of incident light is at a proper level with respect to the subject whose image is to be picked up. Next, the signal generated from the image pickup device 2 is amplified in terms of signal level by the signal processing section 5, and is output as a picture signal of a proper level. The gain control section 6 operates as an AGC circuit (automatic gain control circuit) for controlling the degree of amplification of the signal processing section 5 so that the output signal of the signal processing section 5 is always at a proper level.

Also, the focus signal detecting section 7 extracts a focus signal for calculating the degree of focusing to the subject as a luminance signal component from the signal generated from the signal processing section 5. The movement detecting section 8 calculates an evaluated value with respect to the movement of the subject from the focus signal generated from the focus signal detecting section 7. The movement identifying section 9 judges from the focus evaluated value calculated by the movement detecting section 8 whether the aimed subject has moved.

Now, the operations of the focus signal detecting section 7, movement detecting section 8, and movement identifying section 9 will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the details of the focus signal detecting section 7. In this figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a low pass filter for removing a color signal component with respect to the output signal of the signal processing section 5, 11 denotes a horizontal aperture signal generating section for extracting a frequency component of a particular band from the output signal of the low pass filter 10, 12 denotes a vertical aperture signal generating section for extracting a vertical frequency component from the output signal of the low pass filter 10, 13 and 14 denote a horizontal aperture signal control section and a vertical aperture signal control section for regulating the output signals of the horizontal aperture signal generating section 11 and the vertical aperture signal generating section 12, respectively, to a proper level. and 15 denotes a focus signal generating section for generating a focus signal showing the degree of focusing to the aimed subject from the output signals of the horizontal aperture signal control section 13 and the vertical aperture signal control section 14.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the details of the movement detecting section 8. In this figure, reference numeral 16 denotes an A/D converter for converting the analog output signal of the focus signal generating section 15 into a digital signal, 17 denotes an integration circuit for integrating the output signal of the A/D converter 16, 18 denotes a time counting section for setting the time constant of the integration circuit 17, and 19 denotes a focus evaluated value calculating section for calculating a focus evaluated value showing the time-related change of focus signal from the output signal of the integration circuit 17.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the details of the movement identifying section 9. In this figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a movement parameter setting section for setting the detection sensitivity with respect to the movement of the subject, 21 denotes a comparator for comparing the output signal of the movement parameter setting section 20 with the output of the focus evaluated value calculating section 19, and 22 denotes a judging section for judging the movement of the aimed subject from the output signal of the comparator 21.

Also, reference numeral 23 denotes a microcomputer for controlling the movement parameter setting section 20 and the judging section 22.

The following is a description of the operation of Fig. 2. To the signal generated from the signal processing section 5 is multiplexed a color signal component in addition to the luminance signal component. The low pass filter 10 removes the modulated and multiplexed color signal component and extracts the luminance signal component, which is a low frequency component, only. With respect to the output signal of the low pass filter 10, the horizontal aperture signal generating section 11 and the vertical aperture signal generating section 12 detect horizontal and vertical frequency components, respectively, of the picture signal of the aimed subject, and extract the contour component of the aimed subject. The horizontal aperture signal control section 13 and the vertical aperture signal control section 14 regulate the output signals of the horizontal aperture signal generating section 11 and the vertical aperture signal generating section 12, respectively, to a proper level.

Also, the focus signal generating section 15 synthesizes the output signals of the horizontal aperture signal control section 13 and the vertical aperture signal control section 14, and generates a focus signal as a pattern signal for the aimed subject.

The following is a description of Fig. 3. The A/D converter 16 converts the focus signal generated from the focus signal generating section 15 of the focus signal detecting section 7 into a digital signal.

The integration circuit 17 integrates the focus signal, changing with time, generated from the A/D converter 16 for a fixed period of time under the control of the time counting section 18, and calculates the integrated amount per unit time. Also, the focus evaluated value calculating section 19 calculates a focus evaluated value signal showing the focusing state of the focus signal from the output signal of the integration circuit 17.

When the image of the subject is picked up, because the aimed subject is first focused, the change of the focus evaluated value represents the movement of the aimed subject, so that the presence of movement of the subject can be detected by calculating the evaluated value of focus signal with respect to the picture signal picking up the image.

The following is a description of Fig. 4. The movement parameter setting section 20 stores the standard pattern for detecting movement with respect to the change of the output signal of the focus evaluated value calculating section 19 of the movement detecting section. This standard pattern is a specific gravity in detecting the movement with respect to the picture area picking up the image, and there is stored processing such that the specific gravity in detecting is low at the periphery of the image pickup range and the specific gravity is high at the central portion.

The comparator 21 compares the output signal of the focus evaluated value calculating section 19 with the pattern stored in the movement parameter setting section 20, and generates a signal showing the degree of movement.

The microcomputer 23 generates an image pickup environment detection signal for judging whether the signal generated from the comparator 21 is the movement of the aimed subject. The judging section 22 judges from the output signal of the comparator 21 and the output signal of the microcomputer 23 whether the aimed subject has actually moved.

In this manner, by changing the judgment criterion of the focus evaluated value in the picture area picking up the image, the movement can be detected mainly with respect to the aimed subject.

Embodiment 2: Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus in accordance with the Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 24 denotes a color signal detecting section.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the details of the color signal detecting section 24, and Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the details of the movement detecting section 8 in this embodiment.

In Fig. 6, reference numeral 25 denotes a color signal detection circuit for detecting a color signal component from the output signal of the signal processing section 5, 26 denotes a color separation circuit for detecting color signals of R, GandB from the output signal of the color signal detection circuit 25, 27 denotes a white balance regulation circuit for regulating white balance from the output signal of the color separation circuit 26, 28 denotes a color signal calculating section for detecting the ratio of color signals of R, G and B from the picture signal of the subject after the regulation in the white balance regulation circuit 27, and 29 denotes a ratio signal output section for outputting a ratio signal of each color signal calculated in the color signal calculating section 28.

In Fig. 7, reference numeral 30 denotes an A/D converter for converting the output signal from the ratio signal output section 29 of the color signal detecting section 24 into a digital signal, 31 denotes an integration circuit for integrating the output signal of the A/D converter 30, 32 denotes a time counting section for setting the time constant for the integration circuit 31, and 33 denotes a color signal evaluated value calculating section showing the time-related change of ratio signal of color signal from the output signal of the integration circuit 31.

The following is a description of the operation of the color signal detecting section 24 of the Embodiment 2.

In Fig. 6, the color signal detection circuit 25 detects the modulated color signal multiplexed to the output signal of the signal processing section 5 and detects the color signal. Next, the color separation circuit 26 separates the output signal of the color signal detection circuit 25 into color signal components of R, G and B. The white balance regulation circuit 27 executes white balance regulation according to the lighting condition of the subject from the color signal component of R, G and B color-separated by the color separation circuit 26. The color signal calculating section 28 calculates the ratio of R, C and B of the output signal of the color separation circuit 26 after the white balance regulation. The calculated result is output from the ratio signal output section 29 to provide color information of the subject, so that the ratio changes when the aimed subject moves, and the movement of the subject is calculated from the rate of changed ratio by the movement detecting section 8.

The following is a description of Fig. 7.

The A/D converter 30 converts the ratio signal of color signal generated from the ratio signal output section 29 of the color signal detecting section 24 into a digital signal. The integration circuit 31 integrates the ratio signal of color signal changing with time under the control of the time counting section 32, and calculates the integrated amount per unit time. Also, the color signal evaluated value calculating section 33 calculates the color signal evaluated value representing the change of ratio of color signal from the output signal of the integration circuit 31.

When the image of subject is picked up, the white balance has been regulated, and the color information of the subject is represented by the ratio of color signal of R, G and B. The change of evaluated value of color information within the unit time represents the movement of the subject.

Also, the color information evaluated value detected by the color signal evaluated value calculating section 33 is input to the movement identifying section shown in Fig. 4. The movement parameter setting section 20 in accordance with this embodiment stores the standard pattern for making a judgment with respect to the change of output signal of the color signal evaluated value calculating section 33.

This standard pattern is a specific gravity in detecting the movement with respect to the picture area picking up the image, and there is stored processing such that the specific gravity in detecting is low at the periphery of the image pickup range and the specific gravity is high at the central portion of the image pickup range.

The comparator 21 compares the output signal of the color signal evaluated value calculating section 33 with the pattern stored in the movement parameter setting section 20, and generates a signal showing the degree of movement. The microcomputer 23 generates an image pickup environment detection signal for judging whether the level of signal generated from the comparator 21 is actually the movement of the aimed subject. The judging section judges from the output signal of the comparator 21 and the output signal of the microcomputer 23 whether the aimed subject has moved, judging the movement of the subject.

In this manner, by changing the criterion of the color signal evaluated value in the picture area, the movement can be detected mainly with respect to the aimed subject.

Embodiment 3: Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus in accordance with the Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an image pickup lens, 2 denotes an image pickup device for converting an optical image formed by the image pickup lens 1 into an electrical signal, 3 denotes an image pickup device driving circuit for driving the image pickup device 2, 4 denotes a light quantity control section for regulating the quantity of light incident from the image pickup lens 1 to the image pickup device 2, 5 denotes a signal processing section for converting an output signal of the image pickup device 2 into a picture signal, 6 denotes a gain control section for controlling an output signal of the signal processing section 5 to a picture signal of a proper level, 7 denotes a focus signal detecting section for extracting a luminance signal from the picture signal generated from the signal processing section 5 to produce a focus signal, 47 denotes a lighting condition detecting section for extracting a lighting condition from the frequency component and luminance component of the picture signal generated from the signal processing section 5, 8 denotes a movement detecting section for detecting the change amount of picture signal from the output signal of the focus signal detecting section 7, and 9 denotes a movement identifying section for detecting the movement of a subject from the output signal of the movement detecting section 8.

The following is a description of the operation of the Embodiment 3.

An optical image entering through the image pickup lens 1 is converted into an electrical signal by the image pickup device 2. At this time, the light quantity control section 4 operates as an ALC circuit (automatic light control circuit) for detecting the output signal of the image pickup device 2 and regulating it so that the quantity of incident light is at a proper level with respect to the subject whose image is to be picked up. Next, the signal generated from the image pickup device 2 is amplified in terms of signal level by the signal processing section 5, and output as a picture signal of a proper level. The gain control section 6 operates as an AGC circuit (automatic gain control circuit) for controlling the degree of amplification of the signal processing section 5 so that the output signal of the signal processing section 5 is always at a proper level.

Also. the focus signal detecting section 7 extracts a focus signal for calculating the degree of focusing to the subject as a luminance signal component from the signal generated from the signal processing section 5. The lighting condition detecting section 47 detects the frequency component, high luminance component, and low luminance component from the signal generated from the signal processing section 5. The movement detecting section 8 calculates an evaluated value with respect to the movement of the subject from the focus signal generated from the focus signal detecting section 7. The movement identifying section 9 judges from the focus evaluated value calculated by the movement detecting section 8 whether the aimed subject has moved.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the lighting condition detecting section 47. In this figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a low pass filter for removing a color signal component with respect to the output signal of the signal processing section 5, 40 denotes a frequency component detecting section for detecting a frequency component of the picture signal from the output signal of the low pass filter 10, 41 denotes ahigh luminance detecting section for detecting the area of a high luminance portion of the picture signal generated from the low pass filter 10, 42 denotes a low luminance detecting section for detecting the area of a low luminance portion of the picture signal generated from the low pass filter 10, and 43 denotes a lighting condition evaluating section for detecting the lighting condition of the subject whose image is being picked up from the frequency component detecting section 40, the high luminance detecting section 41, and the low luminance detecting section 42.

The following is a description of the operation of Fig. 9. To the signal generated from the signal processing section 5 is multiplexed a color signal component in addition to the luminance signal component. The low pass filter 10 removes the modulated and multiplexed color signal component and extracts the luminance signal component. which is a low frequency component, only. With respect to the output signal of the low pass filter 10, the frequency component detecting section 40 extracts the signal of frequency component of a particular band, and detects the image pickup lighting condition and the magnitude of contrast of the subject from the magnitude of the signal. Also, the high luminance detecting section 41 and the low luminance detecting section 42 detect a high luminance component and a low luminance component, respectively, from the luminance signal generated from the low pass filter 10, and thereby carry out a detection to judge whether the lighting condition is whole lighting or spot lighting, whether the image is picked up at night or the aimed subject lies in the shadow portion of day time, and so on. From these pieces of information, the lighting condition evaluating section 43 can detailedly judge the image pickup environment of the subject, judges the presence of movement of the aimed subject, and generates a lighting condition evaluation signal.

Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing the details of the focus signal detecting section 7 and the relationship between the focus signal detecting section 7 and the luminance component detecting section 47.

In this figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a low pass filter for removing a color signal component with respect to the output signal of the signal processing section 5, 11 denotes a horizontal aperture signal generating section for extracting a frequency component of a particular band from the output signal of the low pass filter 10, 12 denotes a vertical aperture signal generating section for extracting a vertical frequency component from the output signal of the low pass filter 10, 13 and 14 denote a horizontal aperture signal control section and a vertical aperture signal control section for regulating the output signals of the horizontal aperture signal generating section 11 and the vertical aperture signal generating section 12, respectively, to a proper level by means of the control signal of the lighting condition detecting section 47, and 15 denotes a focus signal generating section for generating a focus signal showing the degree 'of focusing to the aimed subject from the output signals of the horizontal aperture signal control section 13 and the vertical aperture signal control section 14.

The following is a description of the operation of Fig. 10. To the signal generated from the signal processing section 5 is multiplexed a color signal component in addition to the luminance signal component. The low pass filter 10 removes the modulated and multiplexed color signal component and extracts the luminance signal component, which is a low frequency component, only. With respect to the output signal of the low pass filter 10, the horizontal aperture signal generating section 11 and the vertical aperture signal generating section 12 detect horizontal and vertical frequency components, respectively, of the picture signal of the aimed subject, and extract the contour component of the aimed subject. Also, in this case, the horizontal aperture signal control section 13 and the vertical aperture signal control section 14 are inserted to prevent malfunction caused by the change of subject lighting condition and the like. The horizontal aperture signal control section 13 and the vertical aperture signal control section 14, being operated by the control signal of the lighting condition detecting section 47, suppress the output variations of the contour component to be extracted with respect to the change of lighting condition, and operate in such a manner as to carry out a detection only when the aimed subject has actually moved.

That is to say, when the output signals of the horizontal aperture signal generating section 11 and the vertical aperture signal generating section 12 change, it is judged from the signal generated from the lighting condition detecting section 47 that the aimed subject has not changed, but the image pickup environment in which an image is picked up has changed, thereby preventing mistaken judgment.

Thus, by detailedly estimating the image pickup environment of the subject whose image is being picked up, the accuracy in detecting the movement of the aimed subject can be increased.

Embodiment 4: Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing an image pickup apparatus in accordance with the Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an image pickup lens, 2 denotes an image pickup device for converting an optical image formed by the image pickup lens 1 into an electrical signal, 3 denotes an image pickup device driving circuit for driving the image pickup device 2, 4 denotes a light quantity control section for regulating the quantity of light incident from the image pickup lens 1 to the image pickup device 2, 5 denotes a signal processing section for converting an output signal of the image pickup device 2 into a picture signal, 6 denotes a gain control section for controlling an output signal of the signal processing section 5 to a picture signal of a proper level, 7 denotes a focus signal detecting section for extracting a luminance signal from the picture signal generated from the signal processing section 5 to produce a focus signal, 8 denotes a movement detecting section for detecting the change amount of picture signal from the output signal of the focus signal detecting section 7, and 9 denotes a movement identifying section for detecting the movement of a subject from the output signal of the movement detecting section 8.

The following is a description of the operation of the Embodiment 4.

Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing the details of the focus signal detecting section 7 and the relationship between that section and the light quantity control section 4 and gain control section 6. In this figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a low pass filter for removing a color signal component with respect to the output signal of the signal processing section 5, 11 denotes a horizontal aperture signal generating section for extracting a frequency component of a particular band from the output signal of the low pass filter 10, 12 denotes a vertical aperture signal generating section for extracting a vertical frequency component from the output signal of the low pass filter 10, 13 and 14 denote a horizontal aperture signal control section and a vertical aperture signal control section for regulating the output signals of the horizontal aperture signal generating section 11 and the vertical aperture signal generating section 12, respectively, to a proper level by means of the control signals of the light quantity control section 4 and the gain control section 6, and 15 denotes a focus signal generating section for generating a focus signal showing the degree of focusing to the aimed subject from the output signals of the horizontal aperture signal control section 13 and the vertical aperture signal control section 14.

The following is a description of the operation of Fig. 12. To the signal generated from the signal processing section 5 is multiplexed a color signal component in addition to the luminance signal component. The low pass filter 10 removes the modulated and multiplexed color signal component and extracts the luminance signal component, which is a low frequency component, only. With respect to the output signal of the low pass filter 10, the horizontal aperture signal generating section 11 and the vertical aperture signal generating section 12 detect horizontal and vertical frequency components, respectively, of the picture signal of the aimed subject, and extract the contour component of the aimed subject. Also, in this case, the horizontal aperture signal control section 13 and the vertical aperture signal control section 14 are inserted to prevent malfunction caused by the change of subject lighting condition and the like. The horizontal aperture signal control section 13 and the vertical aperture signal control section 14, being operated by the control signals of the light quantity control section 4 and the gain control section 6, suppress the output variations of the contour component to be extracted with respect to the sudden change of lighting condition, and operate in such a manner as to carry out a detection only when the aimed subject has actually moved.

That is to say, in the case where the output signals of the horizontal aperture signal generating section 11 and the vertical aperture signal generating section 12 change, when the signal of the light quantity control section 4 or the gain control section 6 changes greatly, it is judged that the aimed subject has not changed, but the image pickup environment in which an image is picked up has changed, thereby preventing mistaken judgment.

Embodiment 5: Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In Fig. 13, reference numeral 34 denotes a range specifying section for setting the range of image processed in the movement detecting section 8, and 35 denotes a level setting section for setting the range of detection level processed in the movement detecting section 8.

The following is a detailed description of Fig. 13. The range specifying section 34 specifies a particular range of image being picked up, and makes the picture information other than the aimed subject invalid. When the place where image is picked up is fixed, the area detected by the movement detecting section 8 is specified, and malfunction caused by external factors such as window and sky can be prevented. Also, the detection level setting section 35 operates so as to control the detection sensitivity of the movement detecting section 8 with respect to a delicate movement of the subject whose image is being picked up.

A change with a small change amount, such as minor vibrations of trees caused by wind, is cut out, being not detected as the aimed subject by the movement detecting section 8.

Also, the setting of the detection level setting section 35 can be operated by limiting to a region specified by the range specifying section 34.

Embodiment 6: Embodiment 6 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In Fig. 14, reference numeral 36 denotes a trigger signal generating section for generating a signal for judging from the output signal of the movement identifying section 9 that the subject has moved, 37 denotes a picture signal generating section for generating a television signal from the output signal of the signal processing section 5, 38 denotes a trigger signal synthesizing section for adding the output signal of the picture signal generating section 37 to the output signal of the trigger signal generating section 36, and 39 denotes a picture signal output terminal.

The following is a detailed description of Fig. 14.

When the movement identifying section 9 judges that the subject has moved, the trigger signal generating section 36 generates a judgment signal to the outside under the control of the movement identifying section 9. Also, the signal that picked up the image of the subject is converted into a television signal by the picture signal generating section 37.

When this television signal is recorded to a VTR (video tape recorder) or the like, only the case where the subject has changed is sometimes desired to be recorded. In this case, the trigger signal that has judged that the subject has moved is synthesized with the picture signal in the trigger signal synthesizing section 38, and the trigger signal is detected on the side of the recorder such as the VTR, by which recording can be performed so as to conform to the movement of the subject.

Because the trigger signal corresponding to the movement of the subject is multiplexed to the picture signal in this manner, the image can be recorded without using a sensor on the outside, and also excess wiring is not needed.

Embodiment 7: Embodiment 7 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In Fig. 15, an evaluated value filter 44 performs filtering for extracting only the valid data of output signal to remove the error of the evaluated value with respect to the output signal of the focus evaluated value calculating section 19. Also, the microcomputer 23 detects an image pickup environment/condition from the signals of the light quantity control section 4, the gain control section 6, and the time counting section 18, and sets an evaluation standard value of whether the subject has moved with respect to a judgment standard value setting section 45. The judgment standard value setting section 45 inputs the output signal of the microcomputer 23 for a fixed sampling period, sets the judgment standard value of evaluated value, and outputs the standard value to the comparator 21. The comparator 21 compares the output signal of the evaluated value filter 44 with the output signal of the judgment standard value setting section 45, and detects the movement of the subject. That is to say, the change amount of evaluated value for a fixed sampling period is measured, and if the change amount is larger than the setting value, it is judged that the aimed subject has moved.

By this configuration, a reaction of movement detection to a small photographing environment change of the subject, such as a change of lighting condition, can be prevented.

Embodiment 8: Embodiment 8 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the movement detecting section 8 of the Embodiment 8. In this figure, reference numeral 46 denotes a detection range setting section for setting the range of automatic movement and detection and the level from the output signals of the light quantity control section 4, the gain control section 6, the high luminance detecting section 41, and the low luminance detecting section 42.

The following is a description of the operation.

The detection range setting section 46 estimates the current image pickup condition from the output signals of the light quantity control section 4 and the gain control section 6, and estimates the image pattern of the subject from the high luminance detecting section 41 and the low luminance detecting section 42, and then automatically sets the range over a particular image pickup area or a particular signal level according to the image pickup condition.

That is to say, the range in which the movement is detected according to the subject is automatically limited to a bright place or a dark place, and the level setting of movement amount when the movement is detected is performed automatically.

Also, the detection range setting can be controlled by the microcomputer 23. For example, it is possible that in the case where a range brighter than a certain brightness is detected automatically, and the movement of the subject is detected within this range, the function of detecting the movement of the subject is performed only when the range is brighter than the brightness arbitrarily set by the microcomputer 23, and the function is not performed when the range is dark.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup lens; an image pickup device having a light receiving section for converting an optical image formed by said image pickup lens into an electrical signal; an image pickup device driving section for driving said image pickup device; a signal processing section for converting the output signal of said image pickup device into a picture signal; a gain control section for attenuating or amplifying the output signal of said signal processing section to a proper level; a movement detecting section for detecting a focus signal representing the degree of focusing to a subject from the picture signal regulated to a proper signal level by said gain control section and for detecting the change amount; and a movement identifying section for comparing the change amount of the focus signal generated by said movement detecting section with a standard value set beforehand and for judging the presence of movement of a picture in the aimed field of view.
2. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup lens; an image pickup device having a light receiving section for converting an optical image formed by said image pickup lens into an electrical signal; an image pickup device driving section for driving said image pickup device; a signal processing section for converting the output signal of said image pickup device into a picture signal; a gain control section for attenuating or amplifying the output signal of said signal processing section to a proper level; a color signal detecting section for detecting a color signal or a primary color component from the picture signal regulated to a proper signal level by said gain control section; a movement detecting section for extracting a time-related change amount of the ratio of the color signal or the primary color component generated from said color signal detecting section; and a movement identifying section for comparing the time-related change amount of the ratio of the color signal or the primary color component output from said movement detecting section with a standard value set beforehand and for judging the presence of movement of a picture in the aimed field of view.
3. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: an image pickup lens; an image pickup device having a light receiving section for converting an optical image formed by said image pickup lens into an electrical signal; an image pickup device driving section for driving said image pickup device; a signal processing section for converting the output signal of said image pickup device into a picture signal; a gain control section for attenuating or amplifying the output signal of said signal processing section to a proper level; a lighting condition detecting section for identifying an environmental change independent of the movement of the subject, such as a change of frequency component of a particular band from the output signal of said signal processing section and a change of lighting condition from the area occupied by a high luminance component and a low luminance component of the picture signal; and a movement identifying section for judging only the presence of movement of the subject.
4. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: an image pickup lens; an image pickup device having a light receiving section for converting an optical image formed by said image pickup lens into an electrical signal; an image pickup device driving section for driving said image pickup device; a signal processing section for converting the output signal of said image pickup device into a picture signal; a light quantity control section for regulating the quantity of light incident from said image pickup lens to said image pickup device; a gain control section for attenuating or amplifying the output signal of said signal processing section to a proper level; and a movement identifying section for judging an environmental change independent of the movement of the subject, such as a change of lighting condition, from the outputs of said light quantity control section and said gain control section and for actually judging only the presence of movement of a subject in the aimed field of view.
5. An image pickup apparatus according to any one of claims 1 t= wherein said apparatus further comprises a detection range setting section which can beforehand change the detection range of the movement detecting section with respect to the field of view from the image taken into the image pickup device, the movement detecting section generates an output signal from only the subject range set by said detection range setting section, and the movement identifying section judges the presence of movement of a picture in a predetermined range of the aimed subject from this signal.
6. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 vi !, wherein said apparatus further comprises a level setting section which can change the standard value by which the movement identifying section judges.
7. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a movement identifying section for generating a trigger signal, which is a judgment signal for judging the presence of movement of the aimed subject, and a trigger signal synthesizing section for synthesizing the picture signal and said trigger signal, and said trigger signal synthesizing section generates the trigger signal by overlapping with the picture signal.
8. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement identifying section includes an evaluated value filtering section for executing filtering to determine a time-related resolving power with respect to the signal generated from the movement detecting section, and said evaluated value filtering section executes filtering with respect to the output of said movement detecting section and judges the presence of the movement of picture with respect to the aimed subject by comparing the filtered signal with the set standard value.
9. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an image pickup environment such as the lighting condition of the subject whose image is being picked up is detected from a controlled variable of the gain control section, the range of a signal level higher or lower than a standard value set beforehand in a level setting section is extracted from among luminance signals, and the range of the subject judged by the detection range setting section is set automatically in said range, by which the presence of movement of a picture is judged with respect to the aimed subject.