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Imaging device

a technology of imaging device and frame rate, which is applied in the field of imaging device, can solve the problems of increasing power consumption, cost, and the size of imaging device, and achieve the effect of keeping the frame rate constan

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-02-21
RENESAS TECH CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an imaging device that can keep the frame rate constant when performing electronic zooming without having to use a large-capacity frame memory. The device includes a mechanism for converting an input optical signal into an electrical signal, storing it, and reading it at a predetermined frame rate. Additionally, the device performs an interpolation processing on the read picture data based on the magnification for electronic zooming. This results in a video signal with a smaller file size and allows for efficient use of memory. The invention can be applied to mobile equipment and provides a more efficient and effective solution for electronic zooming in imaging devices."

Problems solved by technology

A problem with the prior art imaging device constructed as mentioned above is that there is a necessity to install a large-capacity frame memory 13 in order to keep the frame rate constant when performing electronic zooming, thereby increasing power consumption, the size of the imaging device, and the cost.
Particularly, it is difficult to apply such a prior art imaging device to mobile equipment.

Method used

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Experimental program
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Effect test

embodiment 1

[0038]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an imaging device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an image sensor unit that converts an input optical signal into an electrical signal, stores the electrical signal therein, reads the electrical signal stored therein, and delivers the electrical signal as picture data. The image sensor unit is constructed of a solid-state image sensing device, such as a CCD having a VGA-equivalent 640×480 pixel array structure or a CMOS image sensor. For simplicity, the description about shaded pixels which are always shaded and are placed in the vicinity of an effective pixel region is omitted.

[0039] In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a magnification specification unit that specifies a magnification for electronic zooming, reference numeral 3 denotes a parameter operation unit that calculates imaging parameters associated with the electronic zooming based on the magnifica...

embodiment 2

[0063] An imaging device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention has the same structure as that of above-mentioned embodiment 1 as shown in FIG. 1. In accordance with embodiment 1, although it is assumed that the horizontal scanning period PH and the vertical scanning period PV which specify the scan region controlled according to the magnification for electronic zooming to be integers, neither the horizontal scanning period PH nor the vertical scanning period PV are necessarily integers according to the magnification for electronic zooming. Even when neither the horizontal scanning period PH nor the vertical scanning period PV are integers, the imaging device according to this embodiment 2 can keep the frame rate constant.

[0064] Next, a description will be made as to the operation of the imaging device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention. A parameter operation unit 3 calculates imaging parameters associated with the electronic zooming, i.e., the horizonta...

embodiment 3

[0075] An imaging device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention has the same structure as that of above-mentioned embodiment 1 as shown in FIG. 1. The imaging device according to above-mentioned embodiment 2 provides the horizontal scanning period PHi and the vertical scanning period PVi set for the 1× magnification for electronic zooming in advance. In contrast, the imaging device according to this embodiment 3 provides the horizontal scanning period PHi and a frame period Fc which is a reciprocal of the frame rate which are set for the 1× magnification for electronic zooming.

[0076] Next, a description will be made as to the operation of the imaging device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention. A parameter operation unit 3 calculates the vertical scanning period PVi and the fractional pixel scanning period PRi set for the 1× magnification for electronic zooming by using the following equations (29) and (30).

PVi=INT{Fc÷PHi)  (29)

PRi=Fc−(PHi×PVi)  (30)

[00...

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PUM

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Abstract

An imaging control unit specifies a scan region, including an effective pixel region and a blanking region, of an image based on a magnification for electronic zooming, and converts an input optical signal into an electrical signal by scanning the scan region. The imaging control unit reads the electrical signal stored and delivers the electrical signal to an image sensor unit as picture data. An RW control unit stores the picture data in a register based on the magnification for electronic zooming, and then reads the picture data at a predetermined frame rate. A resolution converter performs interpolation processing of the picture data based on the magnification for electronic zooming.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an imaging device having an electronic zooming function of zooming in an image. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of a prior art imaging device. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an image sensor unit that converts an input optical signal into an electrical signal, stores it therein, reads the electrical signal stored therein, and outputs it as picture data, and reference numeral 12 denotes an imaging control unit that specifies a predetermined scan region which consists of an effective pixel region and a blanking region within the image sensor unit 11, and controls the scanning timing at which the image sensor unit 11 scans the scan region. [0005] In the figure, reference numeral 13 denotes a frame memory provided with a memory A and a memory B (not shown in the figure) each of which holds one frame of picture data de...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04N5/225G06T3/40H04N5/262H04N23/40H04N25/00
CPCG06T3/4007H04N3/1562H04N5/2628H04N5/23296H04N5/232H04N23/60H04N23/69H04N25/443H04N23/843H04N25/63
Inventor SHIMOMURA, KENICHIKONDO, YOSHIKAZUKATO, YOUICHIWATANABE, KENJI
Owner RENESAS TECH CORP