Patent ID: 7411626
Filing Date: 2008-08-12
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image acquiring apparatus for use with a microscope, the apparatus comprising: a pixel shifting section which changes a relative position between an imaging element and a luminous flux incident on the imaging element to a plurality of specific positions by two-dimensionally driving the imaging element; an imaging section which performs photographing with the imaging element in the plurality of specific positions including an initial position; an image creating section which creates a high-resolution new image based on a set of image data photographed by the imaging section; a display control section which displays a pre-captured image photographed first by the imaging section before the image creating section completes creation of the high-resolution new image; an input section which inputs a stop instruction to stop an image acquiring operation currently under execution; an operation stop section which stops operation of the pixel shifting section, the imaging section, and the image creating section in response to the stop instruction from the input section; and an exposure estimating section which estimates a proper exposure time by referring to both the imaging section and the image creating section, wherein the imaging section comprises a short exposure imaging section which photographs the pre-captured image using a predetermined short exposure time that is shorter than the estimated exposure time when the estimated exposure time is longer than a predetermined exposure time, and a correction section which corrects a brightness of the pre-captured image in accordance with a ratio of the estimated exposure time to the predetermined short exposure time when the predetermined short exposure time is used in photographing the pre-captured image.