JP2006005529A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus in which image data of a moving picture can be obtained efficiently. <P>SOLUTION: When a still picture mode for obtaining the image data of a still picture requiring a high resolution as compared with the image data of a moving picture is set, signal charges stored in each signal charge storage element 80<SB>1</SB>-80<SB>n</SB>within a first light receiving region 90 wider than a second light receiving region 92 on a CCD 50 are read out as image data through a first horizontal transfer path 86. When a moving picture mode for obtaining the image data of a moving picture not requiring a high resolution as compared with the image data of a still picture is set, signal charges stored in each signal charge storage element 80A<SB>1</SB>-80A<SB>n</SB>within the second light receiving region 92 narrower than the first light receiving region 90 are read out as image data through a second horizontal transfer path 88. Furthermore, position of a zoom lens 14 can be adjusted by setting the mode such that image data of identical angle of field can be obtained in the still picture mode and moving picture mode depending on the difference in size between the first light receiving region 90 and the second light receiving region 92, position of a zoom lens 14 is adjusted such that the angle of field of still picture mode becomes identical to that of moving picture mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera.

  Conventionally, in an area-type CCD used in an imaging apparatus, particularly a digital camera, signal charges accumulated in a signal charge accumulation element are transferred from a vertical transfer path and a vertical transfer path for transferring each column in a vertical direction. And a horizontal transfer path for transferring the signal charges in the horizontal direction. In such an area CCD, the signal charges accumulated in each signal charge accumulating element are sequentially transferred in parallel in the vertical direction, and further transferred in the horizontal direction for each line so that the transferred signal charges are signaled. It is read as voltage, that is, image data.

By the way, in recent years, the number of pixels of the image sensor has been increasing. As the number of pixels of the image sensor increases, the readout time of image data obtained by imaging increases. Therefore, various techniques have been disclosed in order to speed up the reading of image data from the image sensor. For example, in the technique of Patent Document 1, signal charges are simultaneously transferred in a vertical direction from a plurality of vertical transfer paths, and the transferred signal charges are further mixed and transferred on a horizontal transfer path. This enables high-speed reading of image data corresponding to signal charges obtained from a large number of pixels, that is, from more signal charge storage elements. In the technique of Patent Document 1, skip reading is performed in which signal charges stored in a plurality of signal charge storage elements provided in an image sensor are transferred to each one or a plurality of signal charge storage elements according to resolution. Therefore, the resolution can be easily changed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-84462 (page 3-4, FIGS. 1 and 2)

  In general, moving image image data is rarely required to have a higher resolution than still image data. For this reason, it is possible to easily obtain moving image data having a lower resolution than that of a still image by applying the above-described conventional technique and easily changing the resolution. Since the mixed signal charges are read out on the road, a special mechanism for separating the mixed signal charges and obtaining image data indicating a subject image is separately required.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an imaging apparatus capable of efficiently obtaining image data of a moving image.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a first signal charge storage element that receives light incident through an imaging optical system and stores signal charges corresponding to the amount of received light. A first transfer path for transferring signal charges stored in each of the signal charge storage elements in the light receiving region, and a second light receiving region narrower than the first light receiving region in the first light receiving region. An image sensor having a second transfer path for transferring the signal charge stored in each of the signal charge storage elements, and the signal charge transferred from the first transfer path by switching and the second transfer path Reading means for reading any one of the signal charges transferred from the image data as image data, a setting means for setting a still image mode for obtaining still image data and a moving image mode for obtaining moving image data, and the still image Image mode is set The reading means is switched so as to read out the signal charge transferred from the first transfer path as image data, and when the moving image mode is set, the transfer is transferred from the second transfer path. Switching means for switching the reading means so as to read the signal charge as image data.

  The image pickup device of the image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of signal charge storage elements that receive light incident through the photographing optical system and store signal charges corresponding to the amount of received light. The signal charge accumulated in each signal charge accumulation element in the first light receiving region that receives the incident light is transferred to the first transfer path. The signal charge accumulated in each signal charge storage element in the second region narrower than the first light receiving region in the first light receiving region is transferred to the second transfer path. Since the number of signal charge storage elements in the second light receiving region is smaller than the number of signal charge storage elements in the first light receiving region, the second transfer path has a smaller number than the first transfer path. A signal charge accumulated in each of a small number of signal charge storage elements, that is, a signal charge of a small number of pixels is transferred.

  When the still image mode for obtaining the image data of the still image is set by the setting means, the switching means switches the reading means so as to read the signal charge transferred from the first transfer path as image data. The reading unit reads the signal charge transferred from the first transfer path as image data by being switched by the switching unit. On the other hand, when the moving image mode for obtaining moving image image data is set by the setting means, the switching means switches the reading means so as to read the signal charges transferred from the second transfer path as image data.

  In this way, when the still image mode for obtaining still image data that requires a higher resolution than the moving image image data is set, the signal charge in the first light receiving area wider than the second light receiving area is set. When a moving image mode is set in which the signal charge stored in the storage element is read out as image data, and moving image mode with less resolution than that of still image data is obtained, the first light receiving region is set. Since the signal charge stored in the signal charge storage element in the narrow second light receiving region can be read as image data, the resolution can be easily changed according to the setting of the moving image mode and the still image mode, It is possible to easily read out image data of a moving image with low demand for high resolution.

  Furthermore, a first transfer path for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the signal charge storage element in the first light receiving region wider than the second light receiving region, that is, the signal charge for still image mode, and the first light receiving region Since the signal charge accumulated in the signal charge accumulating element in the narrower second light receiving region, that is, the second transfer path for transferring the signal charge for the moving image mode is separately provided, it is efficiently used for the moving image mode. Can be obtained as image data.

  The photographing optical system can be adjusted so that the angle of view in the still image mode and the angle of view in the moving image mode are the same.

  The first light receiving area and the second light receiving area are different in size of the light receiving area. However, in the imaging apparatus of the present invention, the photographing optical system has an angle of view in the still image mode and an angle of view in the moving image mode. Since the adjustment is made so that the angle of view is the same, the same angle of view can be obtained when the still image mode is set and when the moving image mode is set.

  According to the imaging device of the present invention, when the still image mode is set, the signal charge is read from the first transfer path for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the signal charge accumulation element in the first light receiving region, When the image mode is set, the signal charge can be read out from the second transfer path for transferring the signal charge stored in the signal charge storage element in the second light receiving region narrower than the first light receiving region. Thus, there is an effect that it is possible to efficiently obtain image data of a moving image that requires a higher resolution than a still image.

  Embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, on the front side of the housing 12 of the digital camera 10, a zoom lens 14, a strobe 17, and a finder 16 for visually confirming a photographing range and the like are provided. A slot 22 into which a recording medium 20 such as a smart medium can be loaded is provided on the side surface of the housing 12. A power switch 26, a mode dial 24 and a release switch 28 are provided on the upper surface of the housing 12. The release switch 28 is pressed by the user when shooting is performed. The power switch 26 is used when the user switches power supply to each part of the digital camera 10 or switching of supply stop. The mode dial 24 is used by the user to select a desired mode from among a moving image mode for obtaining moving image image data by shooting and a still image mode for obtaining still image image data by shooting.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1B, an LCD 34 is provided on the back surface of the housing 12. Various selection buttons such as a menu button 38, an up / down arrow key 40, and an execution button 42 are provided in the vicinity of the LCD 34. The menu button 38 is used when the user displays various menu items on the LCD 34. The up / down arrow key 40 is used when the user selects an arbitrary menu item from various menus displayed on the LCD 34. The execution button 42 is used when the user instructs execution of each item.

  FIG. 2 shows a main configuration of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment as a block diagram.

  The digital camera 10 includes a zoom lens 14, a focus lens (not shown), a diaphragm 19, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 50 that are movably provided in the optical axis direction. The light that has passed through the zoom lens 14 passes through a focus lens (not shown), is adjusted in light amount by the diaphragm 19, and then enters the CCD 50. The digital camera 10 includes an analog signal processing unit 51, an analog / digital conversion unit (hereinafter referred to as an A / D conversion unit) 52 that converts an analog signal into a digital signal, a CCD drive signal / switching signal generation unit 56, a motor driver. 58 and a main control unit 60.

As shown in FIG. 3, the CCD 50 includes a plurality of signal charge storage elements 80 ₁ to 80 _n arranged at a predetermined pitch in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Each of the plurality of signal charge storage elements 80 ₁ to _n receives incident light and stores signal charges corresponding to the amount of received light.

Further, the CCD 50 is provided with vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ to _n and vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ to _n for sequentially transferring the signal charges stored in the signal charge storage elements 80 ₁ to _n in the vertical direction. .

The vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ to 82 _n are provided corresponding to the vertical columns of the signal charge storage elements 80 ₁ to 80 _n in the first light receiving region 90 corresponding to the entire light receiving surface of the CCD 50, and store signal charges. The elements 80 ₁ to _n are connected to the elements 80 ₁ to _n via transfer gates 81 ₁ to _n , respectively.

On the other hand, the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ to 84 _n are signal charge storage elements in the second light receiving region 92 that are narrower than the first light receiving region 90 among the signal charge storage devices 80 ₁ to 80 _n in the first light receiving region 90. 80 ₁ ~ _n (hereinafter, referred to as the signal charge storage element 80A ₁ ~ _n) provided for each vertical column of the signal charge storage element 80A ₁ ~ through the transfer gate 83 ₁ ~ _n in _n respective connection Has been. The second light receiving region 92 is similar or substantially similar to the first light receiving region 90, and the central portion of the first light receiving region 90 and the central portion of the second light receiving region 92 coincide with each other.

The second signal charge storage element 80A ₁ ~ _n each light receiving area 92, to either of the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ ~ _n and the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ ~ _n by being switched, the signal charges accumulated Switches 85 ₁ to _n are provided. Each of the switches 85 ₁ to _n is connected to a CCD drive signal / switching signal generator described later, and based on the input switching signal, any of the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ to _n and the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ to 84 _n The signal charge is switched to one of them.

The most downstream direction (A direction in this embodiment) the signal charge transfer direction of the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ ~ _n, the transfers the signal charge transferred from the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ ~ _n in the horizontal direction 1 Horizontal transfer path 86 is provided. On the most downstream side in the signal charge transfer direction of the first horizontal transfer path 86, an output terminal is connected via an amplifier 87A that converts the signal charge transferred to the first horizontal transfer path 86 into a voltage signal (hereinafter referred to as image data). 87B is connected.

On the other hand, the downstream direction of the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ ~ _n of the signal charge direction (B direction in this embodiment), the transferring signal charges transferred from the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ ~ _n in the horizontal direction Two horizontal transfer paths 88 are provided. An output terminal 89B is connected to the most downstream in the signal charge transfer direction of the second horizontal transfer path 88 through an amplifier 89A that converts the signal charge transferred to the second horizontal transfer path 88 into image data.

Here, in this embodiment, when the still image mode is set, each of the switches 85 ₁ to _n performs signal charges accumulated in the signal charge accumulation elements 80A ₁ to _n in the second light receiving region 92. Are transferred to the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ to 82 _n , and the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ to 82 _n and the first horizontal transfer path 86 are respectively connected to the signal charge storage elements 80 ₁ to 80 _{n in} the first light receiving region 90. It is used as a vertical transfer path and a horizontal transfer path for transferring the signal charges accumulated in each. Therefore, the light receiving area of the CCD 50 when the still image mode is set becomes the first light receiving area 90.

On the other hand, when the moving image mode is set, the switches 85 ₁ to _n each transfer the signal charges stored in the signal charge storage elements 80A ₁ to _n in the second light receiving region 92 to the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ to 84 ₁ . switched to forward to _n, the horizontal transfer path 88 each of the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ ~ _n, and the second, the second signal charges accumulated in the signal charge storage element 80A ₁ ~ _n each of the light receiving region 92 Are used as a vertical transfer path and a horizontal transfer path for transferring the signal. Therefore, the light receiving area of the CCD 50 when the moving image mode is set becomes the second light receiving area 92.

The CCD 50 of the present embodiment is provided with a shutter drain via a shutter gate (not shown), and the signal charge accumulated by driving the shutter gate with a shutter gate pulse is transferred to the vertical transfer path 82 _1. To _n or the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ to _n . That is, the CCD 50 has a so-called electronic shutter function that controls the accumulation time (shutter speed) of signal charges accumulated in the signal charge accumulation elements 80 ₁ to 80 _n .

The CCD drive signal / switching signal generator 56 generates timing signals for the CCD 50, the analog signal processor 51, and the A / D converter 52. The CCD drive signal / switching signal generator 56 includes a vertical transfer path switching signal generator 56A and a horizontal transfer path switching signal generator 56B. The horizontal transfer path switching signal generator 56B outputs image data from either the second horizontal transfer path 88 or the first horizontal transfer path 86 to the analog signal processor 51 via the output terminal 89B or the output terminal 87B. A switching signal for switching the connection between the output terminal 89B and the output terminal 87B and the analog signal processing unit 51 is generated so as to read. The vertical transfer path switching signal generation unit 56A is stored in each of the signal charge storage elements 80A ₁ to _{n in} the second light receiving region 92 to any one of the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ to 82 _n and the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ to 84 _n. A switching signal for switching the switches 85 ₁ to _n is generated so that the signal charge is transferred.

  The analog signal processing unit 51 reads out image data from the CCD 50 via the output terminal 87B or the output terminal 89B, performs correlated double sampling processing, and color-separates the color signals into R, G, and B color signals. Adjust the signal level. The A / D conversion unit 52 converts the analog image data processed by the analog signal processing unit 51 into digital image data and outputs the digital image data to the main control unit 60.

  The motor driver 58 includes a motor (not shown) for moving the zoom lens 14, and moves the zoom lens 14 along the optical axis by driving the motor based on the input drive signal. Let

  Since the second light receiving area 92 is a light receiving area narrower than the first light receiving area 90, the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment has the same angle of view when the moving image mode or the still image mode is set. The position of the zoom lens 14 is determined according to the set mode type so that image data can be obtained. As the position of the zoom lens 14, as shown in FIG. 4, a position 48 when the moving image mode is set (hereinafter referred to as a moving image standard position 48) and a moving image standard when the still image mode is set. A position 46 on the wide angle side from the position 48 (hereinafter referred to as a still image standard position 46) is determined. The moving image standard position 48 and the still image standard position 46 have the same angle of view when the still image mode is set and the angle of view when the moving image mode is set. It is determined in advance according to the sizes of the first light receiving area 90 and the second light receiving area 92.

  The main control unit 60 controls the overall operation of the digital camera 10, and includes a CPU 62, a memory 66, a media control unit 64, a display control unit 68, and an image processing unit 70. The CPU 62, the memory 66, the media control unit 64, the display control unit 68, and the image processing unit 70 are connected to a bus 61 constituted by a data bus and a control bus. It can be exchanged.

  The image processing unit 70 performs predetermined digital signal processing on the image data input from the A / D conversion unit 52, and includes an offset correction unit 71, a gain correction unit 72, a gamma correction unit 73, and RGB interpolation. The processing unit 74, the RGB-YC conversion unit 75, the contour correction color difference correction unit 76, and the YC0RGB conversion unit 77 are configured.

  The image data input from the A / D conversion unit 52 is subjected to offset processing by the offset correction unit 71, amplified by the gain correction unit 72, subjected to gamma correction processing by the gamma correction unit 73, and RGB interpolation processing 74. In RGB, RGB interpolation processing is performed. Further, the RGB-YC conversion unit 75 performs predetermined digital signal processing to be converted into luminance (Y signal) and color difference signals (Cr, Cb signals), and the contour correction color difference correction unit 76 performs contour correction and color difference correction. Furthermore, after being converted into RGB signals by the YC-RGB converter 77, it is stored in the memory 66. Instead of the RGB interpolation process 74 and the RGB-YC conversion process 75, a simple RGB interpolation process may be performed.

  The media control unit 64 reads and writes various data including image data with respect to the recording medium 20 such as a memory card. When the recording medium 20 is loaded into the slot 22 (see FIG. 1) and connected to the media control unit 64, data can be exchanged. The image data stored in the memory 66 is compressed by a compression / decompression processing circuit (not shown) by a predetermined compression method such as JPEG or MPEG, and then recorded on the recording medium 20 via the media control unit 64. The display control unit 68 displays the image of the image data recorded on the recording medium 20 on the LCD 34.

  Further, the switch 62 is connected to the CPU 62 via the I / O 67. The switch 36 includes a menu button 38, an up / down arrow key 40, an execution button 42, a power switch 26, a mode dial 24, and a release switch 28. Further, the strobe 17 is connected to the CPU 62 via the strobe control unit 54. Further, the CPU 62 is connected to a motor drive circuit (not shown) including a motor for adjusting the position of the focus lens and the opening of the diaphragm 19 (not shown).

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 10 according to the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 5 shows a processing routine executed by the CPU 62 every predetermined time.

  In step 102, by determining the state of the mode dial 24, it is determined whether the moving image mode is set by the user or the still image mode is set. If it is determined in step 102 that the moving image mode has been set, the process proceeds to step 104 to output a moving image mode switching signal to the CCD drive signal / switching signal generator 56. When the moving image mode switching signal is input to the CCD drive signal / switching signal generator 56, the horizontal transfer path switching signal generator 56B generates a switching signal for moving image mode, and the second horizontal transfer path 88. The horizontal transfer path for reading out the image data is switched so that the image data is read out to the analog signal processing unit 51.

In the next step 106, to the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ ~ _n, such that the second signal charges accumulated in the signal charge storage element 80A ₁ ~ _n each of the light receiving area 92 are transferred, CCD driving signal-switching The switching signals of the switches 85 ₁ to _n are output to the signal generator 56. When this switching signal is input to the CCD drive signal / switching signal generator 56, the vertical transfer path switching signal generator 56A causes each of the switches 85 ₁ to 85 _n to be signal charge storage elements in the second light receiving region 92. The signal charges accumulated in each of 80A ₁ to _n are switched so as to be transferred to the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ to _n .

  In the next step 108, a lens movement signal output process for outputting a drive signal for moving the zoom lens 14 to the moving image standard position 48 to the motor driver 58 is executed. The position of the zoom lens 14 is adjusted by the motor driver 58 so as to become the moving image standard position 48.

  In the next step 110, it is determined whether or not a shooting instruction has been given by determining whether or not the release switch 28 has been operated. In step 110, when there is no shooting instruction for a predetermined time or more, this routine may be terminated.

  If the result of step 110 is affirmative and the release switch 28 is operated, moving image shooting processing for obtaining image data continuously is executed in the next step 112.

Specifically, when the release switch 28 is operated, AF control for adjusting the focus is performed, and the position of the focus lens (not shown) is adjusted via a motor drive circuit (not shown). Further, the aperture value and shutter speed are determined, the opening of the aperture 19 is adjusted via a motor drive circuit (not shown), and the signal charge accumulation time is adjusted by the electronic shutter so that the determined shutter speed is obtained. Be controlled. Further, the CCD drive signal / switching signal generator 56 generates a timing signal for reading out the signal charges stored in each of the charge storage elements 80 ₁ to _n at a predetermined timing (period when the electronic shutter is off), Output to the CCD 50. As a result, the signal charges stored in each of the signal charge storage elements 80A ₁ to _n in the second light receiving region 92 are transferred to the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ to _n via the transfer gates 83 ₁ to _n , respectively. Thereafter, each vertical transfer path 84 ₁ to _{n is} transferred to the second horizontal transfer path 88 for each row. The signal charges sequentially transferred to the second horizontal transfer path 88 are converted into image data by the amplifier 89A, and then output to the analog signal processing unit 51 via the output terminal 89B. second signal charges accumulated in the signal charge storage element 80A ₁ ~ _n each of the light receiving area 92 is read out as image data. As described above, a series of processes for reading out the signal charges stored in each of the signal charge storage elements 80A ₁ to 80 _n in the second light receiving region 92 as image data are continuously executed repeatedly, so that a plurality of consecutive frames are read. Are sequentially read out to the analog signal processing unit 51 and subjected to sequential signal processing, and then a plurality of buffers (not shown) provided in the memory 66 via the A / D conversion unit 52 and the image processing unit 70. Are sequentially stored, and then compressed in an MPEG system, which is a standard compression system for moving image compression, in a compression / decompression unit (not shown).

  Next, in step 108, the moving image data obtained by the moving image photographing process in step 106 is sequentially recorded on the recording medium 20, and then this routine is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 102 is negative, the process proceeds to step 116, where the state of the mode dial 24 is determined to determine whether the still image mode has been set by the user. If it is determined in step 116 that the still image mode is set, the process proceeds to step 118 and a still image mode switching signal is output to the CCD drive signal / switching signal generator 56. When the still image mode switching signal is input to the CCD drive signal / switching signal generator 56, the horizontal transfer path switching signal generator 56B generates a switching signal to the still image mode, and the first horizontal transfer path 86 is generated. The horizontal transfer path for reading out the image data is switched so that the image data is read out to the analog signal processing unit 51.

In the next step 120, the CCD drive signal / switching signal is transferred so that the signal charges accumulated in each of the signal charge accumulation elements 80A ₁ to _{n in} the second light receiving region 92 are transferred to the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ to _n . The switching signals of the switches 85 ₁ to _n are output to the generator 56. When input to the CCD drive signal / switching signal generator 56, a switching signal is generated by the vertical transfer path switching signal generator 56A, and each of the switches 85 ₁ to 85 _n stores signal charges in the second light receiving region 92. The signal charges accumulated in the elements 80A ₁ to _n are switched so as to be transferred to the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ to _n .

  In the next step 122, a lens movement signal output process for outputting a drive signal for moving the zoom lens 14 to the still image standard position 46 to the motor driver 58 is executed. The position of the zoom lens 14 is adjusted by the motor driver 58 so as to be the still image standard position 46.

  In the next step 124, it is determined whether or not a shooting instruction has been made by determining whether or not the release switch 28 has been operated. In step 124, if there is no shooting instruction for a predetermined time or more, this routine may be terminated.

  When the result in step 124 is affirmative and the release switch 28 is operated, still image shooting processing for obtaining image data of a still image is executed in the next step 112.

Specifically, when the release switch 28 is operated, the position of the focus lens (not shown) is adjusted via a motor drive circuit (not shown) in which AF control for adjusting the focus is performed. Further, the aperture value and shutter speed are determined, the opening of the aperture 19 is adjusted via a motor drive circuit (not shown), and the signal charge accumulation time is adjusted by the electronic shutter so that the determined shutter speed is obtained. Be controlled. Further, the CCD drive signal / switching signal generator 56 generates a timing signal for reading out the signal charges stored in each of the charge storage elements 80 ₁ to _n at a predetermined timing (period when the electronic shutter is off), Output to the CCD 50. As a result, the signal charges stored in the signal charge storage elements 80 ₁ to _n of the CCD 50 are transferred to the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ to 82 _n through the transfer gates 81 ₁ to _n , respectively, and then transferred to the vertical transfer paths 82 ₁ to _n. Paths 82 ₁ to _n are sequentially transferred to the first horizontal transfer path 86 for each row. The signal charges sequentially transferred to the first horizontal transfer path 86 are converted into image data by the amplifier 87A, and then output to the analog signal processing unit 51 via the output terminal 87B. The signal charges stored in each of the signal charge storage elements 80 ₁ to _{n in} the first light receiving region 90 are read as image data. The image data read out to the analog signal processing unit 51 is subjected to signal processing, and then stored in the memory 66 via the A / D conversion unit 52 and the image processing unit 70, and then in a compression / decompression unit (not shown). The image is compressed to the JPEG method, which is a standard compression method for still image compression.

  Next, in step 128, the image data of the still image obtained by the still image shooting process in step 126 is sequentially recorded on the recording medium 20, and then this routine is terminated.

As described above, in the digital camera 10 of the present invention, when the still image mode for obtaining still image data that requires higher resolution than the moving image image data is set, the second image on the CCD 50 is set. A signal charge stored in each of the signal charge storage elements 80 ₁ to 80 _{n in} the first light receiving region 90 wider than the light receiving region 92 is read as image data, and a moving image that requires less high resolution than image data of a still image. When the moving image mode for obtaining image data of is set, read the signal charges accumulated in the narrower second signal charge storage element 80A ₁ ~ _n each of the light receiving region 92 than the first light receiving region 90 as the image data Therefore, the number of pixels, that is, the resolution can be easily changed according to the settings of the moving image mode and the still image mode.

  In addition, since the resolution can be easily changed according to the set mode, it is possible to efficiently obtain moving image image data that requires less high resolution than still image data.

In addition, a vertical transfer path for transferring signal charges accumulated in each of the signal charge storage elements 80 ₁ to _{n in} the first light receiving region 90 wider than the second light receiving region 92, that is, signal charges for still image mode. 82 ₁ to _n and the second horizontal transfer path 88 and the signal charges stored in each of the signal charge storage elements 80A ₁ to _{n in} the second light receiving region 92 narrower than the first light receiving region 90, that is, the moving image mode. Since the vertical transfer paths 84 ₁ to 84 _n and the first horizontal transfer path 86 for transferring signal charges for use are provided separately, the signal charges for the still image mode and the moving picture mode are efficiently used. Signal charges can be obtained as image data.

  Further, the mode is set so that image data having the same angle of view can be obtained in the still image mode and the moving image mode according to the difference in size between the first light receiving region 90 and the second light receiving region 92. Then, since the position of the zoom lens 14 can be adjusted, the field angle in the still image mode and the field angle in the moving image mode can be adjusted to be the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is an example of the external view of the digital camera which concerns on this Embodiment, (A) is a front view of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (B) is the digital camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the digital camera which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of CCD which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the position of the lens according to moving image mode and still image mode. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the digital camera which concerns on this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital camera 24 Mode dial 50 CCD
51 Analog signal processing unit 56 Drive signal / switching signal generating unit 56B Horizontal transfer path switching signal generating unit 80 ₁ to _n , 80A ₁ to _n Signal charge storage element 86 First transfer path 88 Second transfer path 90 First Light receiving area 92 Second light receiving area

Claims (2)

Light received through the imaging optical system is received and stored in each of the signal charge storage elements in the first light receiving region having a plurality of signal charge storage elements that store signal charges according to the amount of received light. A first transfer path for transferring the signal charge, and a signal charge stored in each of the signal charge storage elements in the second light receiving region narrower than the first light receiving region in the first light receiving region. An image sensor having a second transfer path,
Reading means for reading out either one of the signal charge transferred from the first transfer path and the signal charge transferred from the second transfer path as image data by being switched;
Setting means for setting a still image mode for obtaining image data of a still image and a moving image mode for obtaining image data of a moving image;
When the still image mode is set, the reading means is switched so as to read the signal charges transferred from the first transfer path as image data, and when the moving image mode is set, the first Switching means for switching the reading means so as to read the signal charges transferred from the two transfer paths as image data;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing optical system is adjustable so that the field angle of the still image mode and the field angle of the moving image mode are the same.

Images