Patent ID: 7808529
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup portion for picking up a subject image to generate an image signal with an imaging frame rate; a frame addition portion for conducting frame addition by using the image signal; and a control portion for controlling an operation of the image pickup apparatus in units of frame addition periods; wherein the control portion generates an image signal reflecting a new setting of an image processing operation even if the frame rate is changed during frame addition processing; wherein the image size of the imaging signal in an effective frame period is not changed when the imaging frame rate (FRp) is varied, and wherein the frame addition portion generates a plurality of output frame images, with a set frame rate that is changed by switching the imaging frame rate and the number of frames added, wherein when a new set frame rate is selected for the control portion, the imaging frame rate of the image pickup portion is determined according to the new set frame rate and a predetermined number of added frames that is determined according to the new set frame rate, wherein when changing a setting of the image processing operation, the image processing operation is restarted with the new setting after the frame addition portion is finished based on a determination signal, wherein, when changing the setting of the image processing operation, a timing of a change at the start or at the end of the frame addition period is specified, wherein, a resulting image reflects the new setting of the image processing operation, wherein if the setting of the image processing operation is changed at the start of the frame addition portion, frame addition can be started on an image signal subjected to the image processing operation with the new setting, and wherein if the setting of the operation is changed at the end of the frame addition portion, frame addition can be performed on an image signal in the subsequent frame addition portion.