IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS CHANGING GAIN OF AMPLIFIER OF IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING CONTROL PROGRAM THEREFOR

摘要

An image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining a smooth video image and of reducing deterioration in the vertical resolution and an image stabilization performance. An image pickup device has a valid pixel area for obtaining an image signal, an optical black area for an optical black correction, and an amplifier unit that amplifies an output from the pixel area and outputs an image signal. A gain adjustment unit adjusts gain of the image signal. A reading control unit changes a gain value in the amplifier unit, changes the numbers of lines in the areas, and performs reading control of the image pickup device, when a control gain value in the gain adjustment unit exceeds a reference value. A change unit changes a time constant of a correction filter used for the optical black correction when the control gain value exceeds the specified reference value.

主权项

1. An image pickup apparatus comprising:
an image pickup device configured to have a pixel area including a valid pixel area for obtaining an image signal and an optical black area for an optical black correction and an amplifier unit that amplifies an output from the pixel area concerned, and to output an image signal corresponding to an optical image formed in the valid pixel area; a gain adjustment unit configured to adjust gain of the image signal and to make a gain adjusted image signal; an image processing unit configured to apply a specified image process to the gain adjusted image signal and to obtain image data; a reading control unit configured to change a gain value in the amplifier unit, to change the numbers of lines in the valid pixel area and the optical black area in the pixel area, and to perform reading control of said image pickup device, when a control gain value in said gain adjustment unit exceeds a specified reference value at the time of reading the image signal from said image pickup device; and a change unit configured to change a time constant of a correction filter that is provided in said image processing unit and is used in the optical black correction, when the control gain value in said gain adjustment unit exceeds the specified reference value.