JPH0937143A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Image pickup device

Info

Publication number
JPH0937143A
JPH0937143A JP7186830A JP18683095A JPH0937143A JP H0937143 A JPH0937143 A JP H0937143A JP 7186830 A JP7186830 A JP 7186830A JP 18683095 A JP18683095 A JP 18683095A JP H0937143 A JPH0937143 A JP H0937143A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
photometric
value
subject
background
exposure control
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
JP7186830A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Hiroyuki Marumori
宏普 丸森
Ryushi Nishimura
龍志 西村
Yasushi Tsugi
靖 都木
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hitachi Ltd
Original Assignee
Hitachi Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hitachi Ltd filed Critical Hitachi Ltd
Priority to JP7186830A priority Critical patent/JPH0937143A/en
Publication of JPH0937143A publication Critical patent/JPH0937143A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform exposure control with which enough correction can be loaded at the time of back light or over follow light even without loading excessive weight to an object and stable brightness can be applied to the object even at the time of follow light. SOLUTION: Concerning an image pickup device provided with an exposure control means, this device is provided with an object extracting means 9, means 11 for detecting the photometric value of the extracted object and means 12 for detecting the photometric value of background, and the photographic conditions are discriminated while using the photometric value outputted from the object photometric value detecting means 11 and the photometric value outputted from the background photometric value detecting means 12. Then, the exposure control is performed by a means 13 for calculating an exposure controlled variable utilizing the discriminated result. Therefore, in the case of exposure control regarding the object important, the enough correction quantity can be provided at the time of back light or over follow light even without loading any excessive weight to the object and the stable brightness can be applied to the object even at the time of follow light.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】Detailed Description of the Invention

【0001】[0001]

【産業上の利用分野】本発明は露光制御機能を備えた撮
像装置に関する。
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus having an exposure control function.

【0002】[0002]

【従来の技術】一般に撮像装置は、出力映像信号のレベ
ルが一定の値となるように入射光量を制御する露光制御
機能を備えている。露光制御においては、映像信号から
画面内の平均的な信号レベルを検出し、検出値と予め設
定された基準値とが一致するように絞り値やシャッタ速
度をフィ−ドバック制御する方式が用いられることが多
い。このとき、映像信号の信号レベルを画面の中心等、
特定の測光領域から検出するのが一般的な方法である。
2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image pickup apparatus has an exposure control function for controlling the amount of incident light so that the level of an output video signal becomes a constant value. In exposure control, a method is used in which an average signal level in the screen is detected from a video signal, and feedback control is performed on the aperture value and shutter speed so that the detected value matches a preset reference value. Often. At this time, change the signal level of the video signal to the center of the screen, etc.
It is a general method to detect from a specific photometric area.

【0003】しかし被写体が特定の測光領域からずれた
場合、上記のような方式では被写体部分が適当な明るさ
に再現されない場合が生じ、特に逆光や過順光の条件下
において問題となる。そこで、常に注目する被写体部分
を適当な明るさとするため、撮影画面内の被写体の位置
と大きさを判定し、これに合わせて測光領域の位置と大
きさを可変する装置が提案されている。この時、被写体
に重みを置いた露光制御をおこなっている場合が多い。
このような従来技術に関し、例えば特開平1ー1201
81号公報に記載されている。
However, when the object deviates from a specific photometric region, the object part may not be reproduced to an appropriate brightness in the above-described method, and this becomes a problem especially under the condition of backlight or overexposure. Therefore, in order to make the subject portion of interest always have an appropriate brightness, there has been proposed a device that determines the position and size of the subject in the photographic screen and changes the position and size of the photometric region in accordance with this. At this time, exposure control is often performed with weight on the subject.
Regarding such a conventional technique, for example, JP-A-1-1201
No. 81 publication.

【0004】[0004]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかし、従来の被写体
に重みを置いた露光制御において、被写体の重みを大き
くして逆光、過順光時の補正状態を良くしようとする
と、順光時において被写体の些細な輝度変化が、出力さ
れる映像に影響を与えてしまい不安定な映像になってき
てしまう。そのため、被写体の重みの大きさはむやみや
たらに大きくすることは出来ない。結局、順光時にあま
り敏感に補正が掛からないように被写体の重みはそれほ
ど重くはしていないことが多い。そのため、逆光、過順
光状態の時にはあまり補正が掛からないことが多かっ
た。
However, in the conventional exposure control with weighting on the subject, if the weight of the subject is increased to improve the correction state at the time of backlighting and over-lighting, the subject will be The slight change in luminance affects the output image, resulting in an unstable image. Therefore, the weight of the subject cannot be excessively increased. After all, the weight of the subject is often not so heavy so that the correction is not performed very sensitively in the normal light. Therefore, in many cases, the backlight and the over-forward light are not often corrected.

【0005】本発明の目的は、上記問題点を解決し、常
に被写体を適当な明るさにする露光制御機能を備える撮
像装置を提供することにある。
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide an image pickup apparatus having an exposure control function for always making an object have an appropriate brightness.

【0006】[0006]

【課題を解決するための手段】被写体の輝度情報だけで
なく、背景の輝度情報も利用することにより安定な露光
を与えるようにする。
[Solving Means] A stable exposure is provided by utilizing not only the brightness information of the subject but also the brightness information of the background.

【0007】露光制御手段を備えた撮像装置において、
被写体抽出手段を設け、抽出された被写体の測光値を検
出する手段と、背景の測光値を検出する手段と、上記被
写体測光値検出手段が出力する測光値と上記背景測光値
検出手段が出力する測光値を用いて撮影状況を判定し、
その判定結果を利用した露光制御量を算出する手段によ
って露光制御を行なう撮像装置を構成した。
In an image pickup apparatus having an exposure control means,
Subject extraction means is provided, means for detecting the photometric value of the extracted subject, means for detecting the photometric value of the background, photometric value output by the subject photometric value detection means and output by the background photometric value detection means. Determine the shooting situation using the photometric value,
An image pickup device for performing exposure control is configured by means for calculating an exposure control amount using the determination result.

【0008】[0008]

【作用】本撮像装置は、安定な映像を得るために被写体
の測光値と背景の測光値を利用して現在の撮影状態を判
定し、その判定結果により導かれる補正量を基に露光制
御量を算出する。また、被写体に重みを置いた露光制御
に上記補正量を重畳することによって、被写体に過度の
重みを掛けなくても逆光、過順光時に十分な補正を掛け
ることができ、順光時にも被写体に対して安定した明る
さを与えることができる。
In order to obtain a stable image, the present image pickup apparatus determines the current shooting state by using the photometric value of the subject and the photometric value of the background, and the exposure control amount based on the correction amount derived from the determination result. To calculate. In addition, by superimposing the above-mentioned correction amount on the exposure control with weight on the subject, sufficient correction can be applied at the time of backlight and over-flash without subjecting the object to excessive weight, and even at the time of forward light It is possible to give a stable brightness to.

【0009】[0009]

【実施例】以下本発明の実施例について説明する。図1
は、本発明による撮像装置の構成を示すブロック図であ
る。1はレンズであり、2は入射光量を調節する絞りで
ある。レンズ1は絞り2を通過後、入射した光信号を通
してCCD(Charge Coupled Device)等の撮像素子3に
結像させる。4は絞り値を可変し所望の値に設定するた
めの絞り駆動回路である。撮像素子3は、結像した光信
号を電気信号に変換し、撮像信号を出力する。撮像素子
3の動作タイミングや、1回の光電変換のための時間、
すなわちシャッタ速度は、撮像素子駆動回路5によって
制御する。6は可変増幅回路であり、アナログの撮像信
号を後段の処理で必要な信号レベルに増幅し(ここで増
幅の他に相関2重サンプリングのような低雑音化処理を
行なっても良い)、照度が低くなった場合に増幅度を上
げて再生信号レベルが一定となるように増幅度を可変す
る。7はカメラ信号処理回路であり、撮像信号をディジ
タル信号に変換した後、クランプ、ガンマ補正、ホワイ
トバランス補正等の公知の処理を施して輝度信号および
色差信号を生成する。これらの信号をNTSC等ビデオ
信号の規格に定められたフォ−マットに変換し、出力端
子8から出力する。被写体抽出回路9はカメラ信号処理
回路7の出力する映像信号から一定の抽出条件を満たす
領域を被写体とみなして抽出すると共にその大きさ、位
置を制御回路10に出力する。このような被写体の抽出
方法に関しては、特開平4−205070や、1993
年テレビジョン学会全国大会予稿集、第91から第92
頁に述べられている。制御回路10は所望の被写体を抽
出するための抽出条件を被写体抽出回路9に出力する。
また被写体や背景の位置や大きさ(面積)などの情報
を、被写体測光値検出回路11と背景測光値検出回路1
2に出力する。
EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup device according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a lens, and 2 is a diaphragm for adjusting the amount of incident light. After passing through the diaphragm 2, the lens 1 forms an image on an image pickup device 3 such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) through the incident optical signal. Reference numeral 4 denotes an aperture drive circuit for varying the aperture value and setting it to a desired value. The image sensor 3 converts the formed optical signal into an electric signal and outputs the image signal. The operation timing of the image sensor 3, the time for one photoelectric conversion,
That is, the shutter speed is controlled by the image pickup element drive circuit 5. Reference numeral 6 denotes a variable amplifier circuit, which amplifies the analog image pickup signal to a required signal level in a subsequent process (a noise reduction process such as correlated double sampling may be performed in addition to the amplification), and the illuminance is increased. When is low, the gain is increased and the gain is changed so that the reproduction signal level becomes constant. Reference numeral 7 denotes a camera signal processing circuit, which converts an image pickup signal into a digital signal and then performs known processing such as clamping, gamma correction, and white balance correction to generate a luminance signal and a color difference signal. These signals are converted into a format defined by the video signal standard such as NTSC and output from the output terminal 8. The subject extraction circuit 9 regards a region that satisfies a certain extraction condition as a subject and extracts it from the video signal output from the camera signal processing circuit 7, and outputs its size and position to the control circuit 10. Regarding such a subject extraction method, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-205070 and 1993
Proceedings of National Conference of Television Society, 91st to 92nd
Page. The control circuit 10 outputs extraction conditions for extracting a desired subject to the subject extraction circuit 9.
In addition, information such as the position and size (area) of the subject and the background is stored in the subject photometric value detection circuit 11 and the background photometric value detection circuit 1.
Output to 2.

【0010】被写体測光値検出回路11は、その色と輝
度の分布から被写体の形状を判定しその形状に合わせた
測光領域からの測光値の検出を行なう。得られた被写体
の測光値を演算回路13に出力する。一方、12は背景
測光値検出回路であり、カメラ信号処理回路7において
ディジタル信号に変換した撮像信号から背景の測光値を
検出しその測光値を演算回路13に出力する。
The object photometric value detection circuit 11 determines the shape of the object from the distribution of its color and brightness, and detects the photometric value from the photometric area that matches the shape. The photometric value of the obtained subject is output to the arithmetic circuit 13. On the other hand, a background photometric value detection circuit 12 detects the photometric value of the background from the image pickup signal converted into a digital signal in the camera signal processing circuit 7 and outputs the photometric value to the arithmetic circuit 13.

【0011】演算回路13においては、被写体の測光値
と背景の測光値を利用して撮影状態を判定する。その判
定を基に被写体を適正な明るさに再現するための露光制
御量を出力する。
The arithmetic circuit 13 determines the photographing state using the photometric value of the subject and the photometric value of the background. Based on the determination, the exposure control amount for reproducing the subject with appropriate brightness is output.

【0012】次に演算回路13における処理を詳しく述
べる。
Next, the processing in the arithmetic circuit 13 will be described in detail.

【0013】演算回路13では、被写体と背景のコント
ラストを算出し、その度合いによって過順光、順光、逆
光状態と3つの状態を判定し、その判定を基に補正量を
設定させる。具体的には、以下に述べる。
The arithmetic circuit 13 calculates the contrast between the subject and the background, determines the three states of over-forward lighting, forward lighting, and back lighting according to the degree of the contrast, and sets the correction amount based on the determination. The details will be described below.

【0014】図2は図1における演算回路13の構成を
示す図である。
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the arithmetic circuit 13 in FIG.

【0015】被写体平均値算出回路21は、入力端子2
6より被写体測光値検出回路11が検出する測光値を入
力し、入力端子29より制御回路10が出力する被写体
の面積を入力し、被写体測光値と被写体面積から単位面
積あたりの被写体測光平均値V0を算出する。同様に背
景平均値算出回路22は、入力端子27より背景測光値
検出回路12が検出する測光値を入力し、入力端子29
より制御回路10が出力する背景の面積を入力し、背景
測光値と背景面積から単位面積あたりの背景測光平均値
Bを算出する。算出された被写体測光平均値Voと背景
測光平均値VBをコントラスト算出回路23に入力す
る。コントラスト算出回路23は、被写体と背景のコン
トラスト値VB/Voを算出する。コントラスト値VB
oを判定回路24に入力し、判定回路24はコントラ
スト値VB/Voに対応する補正量f(VB/Vo)を算出
する。図3は、コントラスト値VB/Voに対する補正量
f(VB/Vo)のグラフの一例である。横軸はコントラ
スト値VB/Voを、縦軸は補正量f(VB/Vo)を表
す。基準値(ここでは0とする)というのは順光時での
補正量を表し、Ca、Cbはそれぞれ過順光、逆光の境
界となるコントラスト値VB/Voである。ここで、逆光
の状態であるというのは、被写体に対して背景が明るい
ということでありコントラスト値が大きくなるといえ
る。逆に、コントラスト値が小さいというのは、背景よ
りも被写体が明るい過順光状態であるといえる。つま
り、コントラスト値Cbを境にして右にいけばいくほど
逆光の度合いが強く、Caを境にして左にいけばいくほ
ど過順光の度合いが強くなる。また、CaとCbの間を
順光領域とする。基準値、Ca、Cb、傾き等の値は、
十分補正効果があるように実機のカメラセット等で調整
して決定すれば良い。露光制御量算出回路25は、判定
回路24が出力する補正量f(VB/Vo)が基準値(こ
こでは0)になるように露光制御量を算出し、出力端子
28から絞り駆動回路4、撮像素子駆動回路5及び可変
増幅回路6等に露光制御量を出力する。例えば、判定回
路24によりコントラスト値が大きい逆光状態であると
判断されたときには、補正量が+であるので、露光制御
量算出回路25は補正量が基準値になるように、つま
り、光量を増やすように、絞り2を開けたり、可変増幅
回路6の利得を上げたり、シャッタースピードを遅くし
たりなどの制御を行なう。逆に、判定回路24によりコ
ントラスト値が小さい過順光であると判断されたときに
は、補正量が−であるので、露光制御量算出回路25は
補正量が基準値になるように、つまり、光量を減らすよ
うに、絞り2を閉めたり、可変増幅回路6の利得を下げ
たり、シャッタースピードを速くしたりなどの制御を行
なう。
The subject average value calculation circuit 21 has an input terminal 2
6, the photometric value detected by the subject photometric value detection circuit 11 is input, and the area of the subject output by the control circuit 10 is input from the input terminal 29. From the subject photometric value and the subject area, the subject photometric average value V per unit area is input. Calculate 0 . Similarly, the background average value calculation circuit 22 inputs the photometric value detected by the background photometric value detection circuit 12 from the input terminal 27, and inputs the input terminal 29.
Further, the area of the background output from the control circuit 10 is input, and the background photometric average value V B per unit area is calculated from the background photometric value and the background area. The calculated object photometric average value V o and background photometric average value V B are input to the contrast calculation circuit 23. The contrast calculation circuit 23 calculates the contrast value V B / V o between the subject and the background. Contrast value V B /
The V o input to the judging circuit 24, the decision circuit 24 calculates a correction amount f (V B / V o) which corresponds to the contrast value V B / V o. FIG. 3 is an example of a graph of the correction amount f (V B / V o ) with respect to the contrast value V B / V o . The horizontal axis represents the contrast value V B / V o , and the vertical axis represents the correction amount f (V B / V o ). The reference value (here, set to 0) represents a correction amount at the time of forward light, and Ca and Cb are contrast values V B / V o which are boundaries of over-forward light and back light, respectively. Here, being in the backlit state means that the background is bright with respect to the subject, and it can be said that the contrast value becomes large. On the contrary, a low contrast value means that the subject is brighter than the background and is in an over-lighting state. In other words, the degree of backlighting is stronger as it goes to the right with the contrast value Cb as the boundary, and the degree of over-forwarding is stronger as it goes to the left with Ca as the boundary. Further, the area between Ca and Cb is defined as the forward light area. Values such as reference value, Ca, Cb, and slope are
It may be determined by adjusting with a camera set of an actual machine so that there is a sufficient correction effect. The exposure control amount calculation circuit 25 calculates the exposure control amount so that the correction amount f (V B / V o ) output from the determination circuit 24 becomes a reference value (here, 0), and the aperture drive circuit is output from the output terminal 28. 4, the exposure control amount is output to the image sensor drive circuit 5, the variable amplification circuit 6, and the like. For example, when the determination circuit 24 determines that the backlight is in a state where the contrast value is large, the correction amount is +, so the exposure control amount calculation circuit 25 increases the light amount so that the correction amount becomes the reference value. As described above, the aperture 2 is opened, the gain of the variable amplifier circuit 6 is increased, and the shutter speed is slowed down. On the other hand, when the determination circuit 24 determines that the light is a forward light having a small contrast value, the correction amount is −, so the exposure control amount calculation circuit 25 sets the correction amount to the reference value, that is, the light amount. In order to reduce, the aperture 2 is closed, the gain of the variable amplifier circuit 6 is lowered, and the shutter speed is increased.

【0016】上記述べた撮影状態を考慮した露光制御と
被写体に重みを置いた露光制御を組み合わせても良い。
被写体に重みを置いた露光制御とは、例えば被写体測光
平均値に16、背景測光平均値に8というような重みを
掛けて画面全体の測光平均値を求め、それが測光基準値
と一致するように絞りやシャッタ速度等を制御するもの
をいう。この測光基準値は出力される映像が明るすぎ
ず、あるいは暗すぎないように、実機のカメラセット等
で調整して決定しておけばよい。この場合の演算回路1
3の構成図を図4に示す。図4における21〜23は、
図2における21〜23と同様の処理を行なう。ここ
で、被写体の重みをwo、背景の重みをwBとすると、露
光制御量算出回路41は、被写体平均値算出回路21が
出力する被写体測光平均値Voと背景平均値算出回路2
2が出力する背景測光平均値VBから、被写体に重みを
置いた画面全体の測光平均値woo+wBBを算出す
る。また、判定回路42が出力するシフト値g(VB
o)を、測光基準値に重畳する。そして、画面全体の
測光平均値woo+VBBが、シフト値g(VB/Vo
を重畳した測光基準値と一致するように、露光制御量を
算出する。この露光制御量を基に、絞りやシャッタ速度
等を制御する。
It is also possible to combine the above-described exposure control considering the photographing state and exposure control with weighting on the subject.
The exposure control with weighting on the subject means, for example, multiplying the subject photometric average value by 16 and the background photometric average value by 8 to obtain the photometric average value of the entire screen so that it matches the photometric reference value. The one that controls the aperture and shutter speed. This photometric reference value may be determined by adjusting with a camera set or the like of an actual machine so that the output image is neither too bright nor too dark. Arithmetic circuit 1 in this case
A configuration diagram of No. 3 is shown in FIG. 21 to 23 in FIG.
The same processing as 21 to 23 in FIG. 2 is performed. Here, assuming that the weight of the subject is w o and the weight of the background is w B , the exposure control amount calculation circuit 41 outputs the subject photometric average value V o and the background average value calculation circuit 2 output from the subject average value calculation circuit 21.
From the background photometric average value V B output by the camera 2, the photometric average value w o V o + w B V B of the entire screen with the object weighted is calculated. Further, the shift value g (V B / V B output by the determination circuit 42
The V o), is superimposed on the light measurement reference value. The photometric average value w o V o + V B V B of the entire screen is the shift value g (V B / V o ).
The exposure control amount is calculated so as to match the photometric reference value obtained by superposing. The aperture and shutter speed are controlled based on this exposure control amount.

【0017】ここで、シフト値g(VB/Vo)について
説明する。シフト値も補正を行なうための値である。図
5は、コントラスト値VB/Voに対するシフト値g(V
B/Vo)のグラフの一例である。縦軸がシフト値であ
り、撮影状態(逆光、順光、過順光)の度合いに応じて
測光基準値を変化させるための値である。実機のカメラ
セットでは、測光基準値、グラフの傾き、Caの値、C
bの値、及びリミッタの値は、電気的にデータの書き替
えが可能なメモリであるEEPROM(electrically e
rasable programable read only memory)を用いて任意
に設定できるようにする。図5の場合、順光状態ではシ
フト値g(VB/Vo)は0としている。この時の順光状
態の測光基準値をVrとすると、図5の特性に応じて出
力されるシフト値g(VB/Vo)を順光状態の測光基準
値Vrに加算(もしくは減算)した値をその時の撮影状
態の測光基準値Vr+g(VB/Vo)とする。こうする
ことで測光基準値、つまり画面全体の明るさの基準が、
その時の撮影状態の基準にシフトされたことになる。具
体的にいうと、逆光状態になると背景の輝度レベルが高
くなるため、つまり画面全体の測光値が高くなってしま
うので、シフト値g(VB/Vo)を順光状態の測光基準
値Vrに重畳することにより、測光基準値を高い値に設
定する。このように測光基準値を高く設定することによ
って、測光基準値が順光状態の測光基準値Vrの時より
も光量を増やすように絞り2を開けたり、可変増幅回路
6の利得を上げたり、シャッタースピードを遅くする制
御が可能となる。結果的に、被写体の黒沈みを防止でき
る。又、過順光時には背景の輝度レベルが低くなるた
め、つまり画面全体の測光値が低くなってしまうので、
シフト値g(VB/Vo)を順光状態の測光基準値Vr
重畳することにより、測光基準値をVrよりも低い値に
設定する。このように測光基準値を低く設定することに
よって、測光基準値が順光状態の測光基準値Vrの時よ
りも光量を減らすように絞り2を閉じたり、可変増幅回
路6の利得を下げたり、シャッタースピードを速くする
制御を行なう。結果的に、被写体の白飛びとよばれる被
写体にスポット光が当たっているような場合、必要以上
に光量が与えられて被写体が白くなってしまう現象を防
止できる。このようにシフト値とは、測光基準値をその
時の撮影状態に合わせた値にするための変動量を表す。
The shift value g (V B / V o ) will be described here. The shift value is also a value for performing correction. Figure 5 is a shift value g (V relative to the contrast value V B / V o
It is an example of a graph of B / V o). The vertical axis represents the shift value, which is a value for changing the photometric reference value according to the degree of the shooting state (backlight, forward light, over-light). In the actual camera set, the photometric reference value, the inclination of the graph, the value of Ca, the value of C
The value of b and the value of the limiter are EEPROM (electrically e) which is a memory capable of electrically rewriting data.
rasable programmable read only memory). In the case of FIG. 5, the shift value g (V B / V o ) is 0 in the normal light state. Assuming that the photometric reference value in the normal light state at this time is V r , the shift value g (V B / V o ) output according to the characteristics of FIG. 5 is added to the photometric reference value V r in the normal light state (or The subtracted value is set as the photometric reference value V r + g (V B / V o ) in the shooting state at that time. By doing this, the photometric reference value, that is, the standard of the brightness of the entire screen,
This means that the shooting conditions have been shifted to the standard. Specifically, since the background brightness level increases in the backlit state, that is, the photometric value of the entire screen increases, the shift value g (V B / V o ) is set to the photometric reference value in the normal lighting state. By superimposing on V r , the photometric reference value is set to a high value. By setting the photometric reference value high in this way, the aperture 2 is opened so that the light amount is increased more than when the photometric reference value is the photometric reference value V r in the normal light state, and the gain of the variable amplification circuit 6 is increased. , It becomes possible to control to slow down the shutter speed. As a result, blackening of the subject can be prevented. Also, since the background brightness level becomes low during over-lighting, that is, the photometric value of the entire screen becomes low,
By superimposing the shift value g (V B / V o ) on the photometric reference value V r in the normal light state, the photometric reference value is set to a value lower than V r . By setting the photometric reference value low as described above, the diaphragm 2 is closed or the gain of the variable amplifier circuit 6 is lowered so that the light amount is smaller than when the photometric reference value is the photometric reference value V r in the normal light state. , Control to increase the shutter speed. As a result, in the case where the subject is referred to as “out-of-white”, the spot light is shining on the subject, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon in which the amount of light is given more than necessary and the subject becomes white. As described above, the shift value represents a variation amount for setting the photometric reference value to a value that matches the shooting state at that time.

【0018】本実施例では、被写体に重みを置いた露光
制御における露光制御量に、撮影状態を判定した結果か
ら導かれるシフト値を重畳することによって、被写体に
過度の重みを掛けなくても逆光、過順光時に十分な補正
が可能となり、順光時にも被写体に対して安定した明る
さを与えることができる。
In the present embodiment, by superimposing a shift value derived from the result of the determination of the photographing state on the exposure control amount in the exposure control in which the weight is placed on the subject, it is possible to backlight the subject without applying excessive weight. In addition, it is possible to perform sufficient correction when the light is excessive, and it is possible to provide a stable brightness to the subject even when the light is excessive.

【0019】[0019]

【発明の効果】本発明によれば、順光、逆光、過順光等
の撮影状態に応じて、露光量を制御できる。
According to the present invention, the exposure amount can be controlled in accordance with the shooting conditions such as normal light, backlight, and excessive light.

【0020】また、被写体に重みを置いた露光制御にお
いては、被写体に過度の重みを掛けなくても逆光、過順
光時に十分なシフト値を得ることができ、順光時にも被
写体に対して安定した明るさを与えることができる。
Further, in the exposure control with weighting on the subject, a sufficient shift value can be obtained at the time of backlight and over-flash without subjecting the subject to excessive weight, and even at the time of forward light It can give stable brightness.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of drawings]

【図1】本発明による撮像装置の一実施例の構成を示す
ブロック図である。
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

【図2】本発明による撮像装置の演算回路の構成を示す
ブロック図である。
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an arithmetic circuit of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

【図3】本発明による判定に使用するグラフを表す図で
ある。
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a graph used for determination according to the present invention.

【図4】本発明による撮像装置の演算回路の他の実施例
の構成を示すブロック図である。
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the arithmetic circuit of the image pickup device according to the present invention.

【図5】本発明による他の実施例の判定に使用するグラ
フを表す図である。
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a graph used for determination of another embodiment according to the present invention.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

1… レンズ、2… 絞り、3… 撮像素子、4… 絞
り駆動回路、5… 撮像素子駆動回路、6… 可変増幅
回路、7… カメラ信号処理回路、8… 出力端子、9
… 被写体抽出回路、10… 制御回路、11… 被写
体測光値検出回路、12… 背景測光値検出回路、13
… 演算回路、21… 被写体平均値算出回路、22…
背景平均算出回路、23… コントラスト算出回路、
24… 判定回路、25… 露光制御量算出回路、2
6,27… 入力端子、28… 出力端子、29… 入
力端子、41… 露光制御量算出回路、42…判定回
路。
1 ... Lens, 2 ... Aperture, 3 ... Image pickup device, 4 ... Aperture drive circuit, 5 ... Image pickup device drive circuit, 6 ... Variable amplification circuit, 7 ... Camera signal processing circuit, 8 ... Output terminal, 9
... subject extraction circuit, 10 ... control circuit, 11 ... subject photometric value detection circuit, 12 ... background photometric value detection circuit, 13
... arithmetic circuit, 21 ... object average value calculation circuit, 22 ...
Background average calculation circuit, 23 ... Contrast calculation circuit,
24 ... Judgment circuit, 25 ... Exposure control amount calculation circuit, 2
6, 27 ... Input terminal, 28 ... Output terminal, 29 ... Input terminal, 41 ... Exposure control amount calculation circuit, 42 ... Judgment circuit.

───────────────────────────────────────────────────── フロントページの続き (72)発明者 都木 靖 神奈川県横浜市戸塚区吉田町292番地株式 会社日立製作所マルチメディアシステム開 発本部内 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasushi Toki 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Yokohama, Japan Multimedia Systems Development Division, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (3)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項1】入射光を光電変換して撮像信号を出力する
撮像素子と、 該撮像素子に入射される露光量を制御する露光制御手段
と、 該撮像素子から出力される撮像信号から映像信号を生成
する信号処理手段と、 前記映像信号から特定の被写体を抽出する被写体抽出手
段と、 前記映像信号から、前記抽出手段により抽出された被写
体の測光値を検出する被写体測光値検出手段と、 前記映像信号から、背景の測光値を検出する背景測光値
検出手段と、 前記被写体測光値検出手段が出力する前記被写体の測光
値と前記背景測光値検出手段が出力する前記背景の測光
値から露光制御量を算出する演算手段とを有し、 前記露光制御手段は、前記演算手段の出力信号に応じて
露光制御を行なうことを特徴とする撮像装置。
1. An image pickup device for photoelectrically converting incident light to output an image pickup signal, exposure control means for controlling an exposure amount incident on the image pickup device, and an image signal output from the image pickup device. A signal processing means for generating a subject, a subject extracting means for extracting a specific subject from the video signal, a subject photometric value detecting means for detecting a photometric value of the subject extracted by the extracting means from the video signal, Exposure control from background photometric value detecting means for detecting the photometric value of the background from the video signal, photometric value of the subject output by the subject photometric value detecting means, and photometric value of the background output by the background photometric value detecting means An imaging device, comprising: an arithmetic unit that calculates an amount, wherein the exposure control unit performs exposure control according to an output signal of the arithmetic unit.
【請求項2】前記演算手段は、前記被写体測光値検出手
段が出力する被写体測光値から単位面積あたりの被写体
測光平均値を算出する被写体平均値算出手段と、 前記背景測光値検出手段が出力する背景測光値から単位
面積あたりの背景測光平均値を算出する背景平均値算出
手段と、 前記被写体測光平均値と前記背景測光平均値とから被写
体と背景のコントラスト値を算出するコントラスト算出
手段と、 前記コントラスト算出手段が出力する前記コントラスト
値を基に撮影状態を判定して、該判定を基に露光補正量
を出力する判定手段と、 該判定手段が出力する前記露光補正量を基に露光制御量
を算出する露光制御量算出手段を有し、 前記露光制御手段は、前記露光制御量算出手段の結果に
応じて、露光制御を行なうことを特徴とする請求項1に
記載の撮像装置。
2. The calculation means outputs a subject average value calculating means for calculating a subject photometric average value per unit area from the subject photometric value output by the subject photometric value detecting means, and the background photometric value detecting means. Background average value calculating means for calculating the background photometric average value per unit area from the background photometric value, contrast calculating means for calculating the contrast value between the subject and the background from the subject photometric average value and the background photometric average value, and A determination unit that determines the photographing state based on the contrast value output by the contrast calculation unit and outputs an exposure correction amount based on the determination, and an exposure control amount based on the exposure correction amount output by the determination unit. And an exposure control amount calculation unit for calculating the exposure control amount, wherein the exposure control unit performs exposure control according to a result of the exposure control amount calculation unit. The image pickup apparatus according to 1.
【請求項3】前記露光制御手段は、前記被写体測光値検
出手段が出力する被写体測光値から単位面積あたりの被
写体測光平均値を算出する被写体平均値算出手段と、 前記背景測光値検出手段が出力する背景測光値から単位
面積あたりの背景測光平均値を算出する背景平均値算出
手段と、 前記被写体測光平均値と前記背景測光平均値とから被写
体と背景のコントラスト値を算出するコントラスト算出
手段と、 前記コントラスト算出手段が出力する前記コントラスト
値を基に撮影状態を判定して、該判定を基に露光補正値
を出力する判定手段と、 該判定手段が出力する前記露光補正値と前記被写体測光
値と前記背景測光値を基に算出された画面全体の測光平
均値をもとに、露光制御量を算出する露光制御量算出手
段とを有し、 前記露光制御手段は、前記露光制御量算出手段の結果に
応じて露光制御を行なうことを特徴とする請求項1に記
載の撮像装置。
3. The exposure control means, the subject average value calculating means for calculating a subject photometric average value per unit area from the subject photometric value output by the subject photometric value detecting means, and the background photometric value detecting means output. A background average value calculating means for calculating a background photometric average value per unit area from the background photometric value, a contrast calculating means for calculating a contrast value between the subject and the background from the subject photometric average value and the background photometric average value, Judgment means for judging the photographing state based on the contrast value outputted by the contrast calculation means, and outputting an exposure correction value based on the judgment, and the exposure correction value and the subject photometric value outputted by the judgment means. And an exposure control amount calculation means for calculating an exposure control amount based on a photometric average value of the entire screen calculated based on the background photometric value. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by performing exposure control in accordance with a result of the exposure control amount calculating means.
JP7186830A 1995-07-24 1995-07-24 Image pickup device Pending JPH0937143A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP7186830A JPH0937143A (en) 1995-07-24 1995-07-24 Image pickup device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP7186830A JPH0937143A (en) 1995-07-24 1995-07-24 Image pickup device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH0937143A true JPH0937143A (en) 1997-02-07

Family

ID=16195367

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP7186830A Pending JPH0937143A (en) 1995-07-24 1995-07-24 Image pickup device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH0937143A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7167597B2 (en) 2001-11-29 2007-01-23 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer program and storage medium
US11272113B2 (en) 2017-10-24 2022-03-08 Sony Corporation Control apparatus and control method for exposure adjustment

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7167597B2 (en) 2001-11-29 2007-01-23 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer program and storage medium
US7315657B2 (en) 2001-11-29 2008-01-01 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer program and storage medium
US11272113B2 (en) 2017-10-24 2022-03-08 Sony Corporation Control apparatus and control method for exposure adjustment

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