Patent ID: 7683939
Filing Date: 2010-03-23
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image input unit capable of performing pixel shift photography, said image input unit comprising: a photographic optical system which forms an image of a subject in a predetermined position; an image sensing unit which generates image data corresponding to the image of the subject; a pixel shift mechanism which displaces said image sensing unit by a predetermined amount; an adjustment value storage unit which stores an adjustment value for driving said pixel shift mechanism; a pixel shift mechanism control unit which controls said pixel shift mechanism based on the adjustment value stored in the adjustment value storage unit, to thereby displace said image sensing unit by the predetermined amount; an image combining unit which generates a combined image data for one image by combining the image data from a plurality of images output before and after the displacement of said image sensing unit; a pixel shift evaluation value calculation unit which calculates a pixel shift evaluation value for judging whether the pixel shift photography on a completed combined image has been performed correctly or not, based on comparing the image data from a plurality of images output before the displacement of said image sensing unit with the image data from the plurality of images output after the displacement of said image sensing unit; and a pixel shift photography control unit which controls to execute an operation repetitively in which, when a continuous pixel shift mode is selected, a pre-pixel shift photography of setting an adjustment value in said pixel shift mechanism, said pixel shift evaluation value calculation unit calculates the pixel shift evaluation value to thereby calculate a new adjustment value based on the calculated pixel shift evaluation value, and the pre-pixel shift photography is performed again with the new adjustment value.