IP Library Granted Patent US 7,884,856
Granted Patent B2
US 7,884,856 · App. 11/714,767 · Granted Feb 8, 2011

Imaging apparatus and exposure control method thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,884,856
App. No.
11/714,767
Granted
Feb 8, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes a CCD sensor to perform exposure and output a plurality of captured images in response to a control signal, an image composer to combine the plurality of captured images and produce a composite image, and an exposure controller to supply a SUB signal to the CCD sensor such that an exposure start timing differs by the plurality of captured images if a timing to start exposure by the CCD sensor is included within an output period of the CCD sensor.

Claims (48)

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an image pickup device constructed and arranged to perform a plurality of exposures during respective non-overlapping exposure periods and output an associated plurality of captured images in response to a control signal, each of the exposures being triggered relative a periodic synchronization signal;

an image composer to combine the plurality of output captured images into a composite image; and

an exposure controller to supply the control signal to the image pickup device such that an exposure start timing with respect to an associated pulse of the synchronization signal differs among the plurality of captured images if a timing to start exposure by the image pickup device is included within an output period of the captured images.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the exposure controller controls such that an exposure time of the image pickup device differs in each of the plurality of captured images.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the exposure controller controls such that an exposure period of the image pickup device does not coincide with the output period of the captured images.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the exposure controller sets a total of exposure times of the plurality of captured images to a prescribed time.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the exposure controller sets a total of exposure times of the plurality of captured images to a prescribed time.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the exposure controller sets a total of exposure times of the plurality of captured images to a prescribed time.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the control signal supplied to the image pickup device is a charge discharging pulse for the image pickup device to discharge charges, and

the exposure controller controls an overlap of an exposure period and the output period by changing the number of charge discharging pulses.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the control signal supplied to the image pickup device is a charge discharging pulse for the image pickup device to discharge charges, and

the exposure controller controls an overlap of an exposure period and the output period by changing the number of charge discharging pulses.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the control signal supplied to the image pickup device is a charge discharging pulse for the image pickup device to discharge charges, and

the exposure controller controls an overlap of an exposure period and the output period by changing the number of charge discharging pulses.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the control signal supplied to the image pickup device is a charge discharging pulse for the image pickup device to discharge charges, and

the exposure controller controls an overlap of an exposure period and the output period by changing the number of charge discharging pulses.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the control signal supplied to the image pickup device is a charge discharging pulse for the image pickup device to discharge charges, and

the exposure controller controls an overlap of an exposure period and the output period by changing the number of charge discharging pulses.

12. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an image pickup device to perform exposure and output a plurality of captured images in response to a control signal;

an image composer to combine the plurality of output captured images into a composite image; and

an exposure controller to supply the control signal to the image pickup device such that an exposure start timing differs by among the plurality of captured images if a timing to start exposure by the image pickup device is included within an output period of the captured images;

wherein the exposure controller controls such that no exposure period of the image pickup device overlaps with any of the output periods of the captured images.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein

the exposure controller sets a total of exposure times of the plurality of captured images to a prescribed time.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein

the control signal supplied to the image pickup device is a charge discharging pulse for the image pickup device to discharge charges, and

the exposure controller controls an overlap of an exposure period and the output period by changing the number of charge discharging pulses.

15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the control signal supplied to the image pickup device is a charge discharging pulse for the image pickup device to discharge charges, and

the exposure controller controls an overlap of an exposure period and the output period by changing the number of charge discharging pulses.

16. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an image pickup device to perform exposure and output a plurality of captured images in response to a control signal;

an image composer to combine the plurality of output captured images into a composite image; and

an exposure controller to supply the control signal to the image pickup device such that an exposure start timing differs by the plurality of captured images if a timing to start exposure by the image pickup device is included within an output period of the captured images;

wherein the control signal supplied to the image pickup device is a charge discharging pulse for the image pickup device to discharge charges, and

the exposure controller controls an overlap of an exposure period and the output period by changing the number of charge discharging pulses.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025311/0860 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2007
From: NIIKURA, KENTARO
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019034/0466 →