IP Library Granted Patent US 8,970,730
Granted Patent B2
US 8,970,730 · App. 13/914,736 · Granted Mar 3, 2015

Imaging apparatus for controlling and displaying flicker amounts

Inventors: Yuki Ebina (Hitachinaka, JP); Takeshi Tahara (Tokyo, JP); Haruhiko Miyao (Mito, JP); Makoto Kikuchi (Hitachiota, JP); Akinori Shiozawa (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi Industry & Control Solutions, Ltd.
H04N5/2357H04N5/23245H04N5/23293H04N5/2352H04N5/238H04N5/243
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,970,730
App. No.
13/914,736
Granted
Mar 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging apparatus is provided in which a flicker is prevented. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging part that includes an optical system to form an image of a subject and an imaging element to generate an image signal by photoelectrically converting an optical image of the subject formed by the optical system, an image processing part to perform an image processing on the image signal, a display part/operation part having at least display and setting functions, a luminance change detection part to detect change of luminance of the subject, a signal processing part to calculate flicker amounts at respective frequencies based on signal intensities with respect to luminance change information acquired by the luminance change detection part, and a control unit to cause the display part/operation part to display the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies calculated by the signal processing part.

Claims (33)

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging part that includes an optical system to form an image of a subject and an imaging element to generate an image signal by photoelectrically converting an optical image of the subject formed by the optical system;

an image processing part to perform an image processing on the image signal;

a user interface unit having at least display and setting functions;

a luminance change detection unit configured to detect change of luminance of the subject;

a signal processing unit configured to calculate flicker amounts at respective frequencies based on signal intensities with respect to luminance change information acquired by the luminance change detection unit; and

a control unit configured to cause the user interface unit to display the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies calculated by the signal processing unit.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit changes a shutter speed of the imaging part based on user setting through the user interface unit after the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies are displayed on the user interface unit.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit changes a shutter speed of the imaging part to a shutter speed corresponding to a frequency at which the flicker amount becomes maximum based on the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the signal processing unit calculates flicker amounts at respective frequencies based on an image signal obtained when a picture is taken at the shutter speed after change, and

the control unit causes the user interface unit to display the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies calculated by the signal processing unit after the shutter speed change.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an automatic gain adjustment unit configured to automatically adjust a gain of the image signal, wherein

the control unit changes a shutter speed of the imaging part based on user setting of a first frequency through the interface unit after the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies are displayed on the user interface unit, and changes a gain of the automatic gain adjustment unit based on user setting of a second frequency through the user interface unit.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an automatic gain adjustment unit configured to automatically adjust a gain of the image signal, wherein

the control unit changes a shutter speed of the imaging part to a shutter speed corresponding to a frequency at which the flicker amount becomes maximum based on the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies, and changes a gain of the automatic gain adjustment unit to a gain corresponding to a frequency at which the flicker amount is second largest.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising an automatic gain adjustment unit configured to automatically adjust a gain of the image signal, wherein

the control unit changes a gain of the automatic gain adjustment unit based on user setting through the user interface unit after flicker amounts at respective frequencies are displayed on the user interface unit after the shutter speed change.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising an automatic gain adjustment unit configured to automatically adjust a gain of the image signal, wherein

the signal processing unit calculates flicker amounts at respective frequencies based on an image signal obtained when a picture is taken at the shutter speed after change, and the control unit changes a gain of the automatic gain adjustment unit to a gain corresponding to a frequency at which the flicker amount becomes maximum based on the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the signal processing unit calculates flicker amounts at respective frequencies based on an image signal obtained when a picture is taken at the shutter speed after change and at the gain of the automatic gain adjustment unit after adjustment, and

the control unit causes the user interface unit to display the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies calculated by the signal processing unit after the shutter speed change and the gain adjustment.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the signal processing unit calculates flicker amounts at respective frequencies based on an image signal obtained when a picture is taken at the shutter speed after change, and

the control unit causes the user interface unit to display the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies calculated by the signal processing unit after the shutter speed change.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising an automatic gain adjustment unit configured to automatically adjust a gain of the image signal, wherein

the control unit changes a gain of the automatic gain adjustment unit based on user setting through the user interface unit after flicker amounts at respective frequencies are displayed on the user interface unit after the shutter speed change.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising an automatic gain adjustment unit configured to automatically adjust a gain of the image signal, wherein

the signal processing unit calculates flicker amounts at respective frequencies based on an image signal obtained when a picture is taken at the shutter speed after change, and the control unit changes a gain of the automatic gain adjustment unit to a gain corresponding to a frequency at which the flicker amount becomes maximum based on the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the signal processing unit calculates flicker amounts at respective frequencies based on an image signal obtained when a picture is taken at the shutter speed after change and at the gain of the automatic gain adjustment unit after adjustment, and

the control unit causes the user interface unit to display the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies calculated by the signal processing unit after the shutter speed change and the gain adjustment.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2014
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 034109/0447 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2013
From: EBINA, YUKI; TAHARA, TAKESHI; MIYAO, HARUHIKO; KIKUCHI, MAKOTO; SHIOZAWA, AKINORI
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 030585/0118 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-139075 · Jun 20, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130342726A1 · Dec 26, 2013