Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a subject detection unit that detects a subject using an image signal output by an image sensor and a motion vector detection unit that detects a motion vector of the subject from the image signal. A camera control unit performs a process of recognizing a movement pattern using the motion vector of the detected subject and determines a group movement scene if it is determined that a movement of a plurality of subjects is a linear movement and the number of subjects with the same movement pattern is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. The camera control unit sets the subject in the lead in the movement direction among the plurality of subjects performing the liner movement in the determined group movement scene to a tracking target as a main subject.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a subject detection unit that detects a subject using an image signal output by an image sensor and a motion vector detection unit that detects a motion vector of the subject from the image signal. A camera control unit performs a process of recognizing a movement pattern using the motion vector of the detected subject and determines a group movement scene if it is determined that a movement of a plurality of subjects is a linear movement and the number of subjects with the same movement pattern is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. The camera control unit sets the subject in the lead in the movement direction among the plurality of subjects performing the liner movement in the determined group movement scene to a tracking target as a main subject.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor and a controller. The image sensor has a plurality of pixels and simultaneously reads out a first image signal acquired by a first pixel group among the plurality of pixels and a second image signal acquired by a second pixel group among the plurality of pixels. The controller performs operations including controlling. A vertical synchronization signal is controlled to synchronize the vertical synchronization signal with a readout cycle of an image signal corresponding to a high frame rate when the first image signal and the second image signal are simultaneously read out from the image sensor. Where low power consumption control regarding the image sensor is performed, the vertical synchronization signal is controlled to increase a period during which the image sensor is kept in a low power consumption state when only the first image signal is read out from the image sensor.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor and a controller. The image sensor has a plurality of pixels and simultaneously reads out a first image signal acquired by a first pixel group among the plurality of pixels and a second image signal acquired by a second pixel group among the plurality of pixels. The controller performs operations including controlling. A vertical synchronization signal is controlled to synchronize the vertical synchronization signal with a readout cycle of an image signal corresponding to a high frame rate when the first image signal and the second image signal are simultaneously read out from the image sensor. Where low power consumption control regarding the image sensor is performed, the vertical synchronization signal is controlled to increase a period during which the image sensor is kept in a low power consumption state when only the first image signal is read out from the image sensor.

Abstract: An imaging element includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units that output an image signal for each pixel through a micro lens. An imaging signal processing circuit separates image signals output from the imaging element into a left-eye image signal and a right-eye image signal. An image combining circuit generates combined image data by performing arithmetic average processing for left-eye image data and right-eye image data. A recording medium control I/F unit controls to record left-eye image data and right-eye image data for use in 3D display and combined image data for use in 2D display in different regions in an image file.

Abstract: An image stabilizing apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect motion vectors from a plurality of images acquired by an image sensor, a determination unit configured to determine a motion vector of an object among the motion vectors, a specifying unit configured to specify a target point in the images, and a control unit configured to provide an image stabilizing control based on the target point and a motion vector of the object. The control unit sets an image area in accordance with the motion vector of the object and the target point in the images, and provides the image stabilizing control based on the image area.

Abstract: An imaging element includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units that output an image signal for each pixel through a micro lens. An imaging signal processing circuit separates image signals output from the imaging element into a left-eye image signal and a right-eye image signal. An image combining circuit generates combined image data by performing arithmetic average processing for left-eye image data and right-eye image data. A recording medium control I/F unit controls to record left-eye image data and right-eye image data for use in 3D display and combined image data for use in 2D display in different regions in an image file.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a calculation unit configured to calculate a driving amount of the optical element from a motion vector detected in an object area that contains an image of the object in a motion image generated by capturing, and a control unit configured to control the optical element according to the driving amount. The calculation unit calculates the driving amount for each of a plurality of motion vectors having different magnitudes detected in a plurality of object areas in the motion image. The control unit controls the optical element for each of the plurality of calculated driving amounts and for each capturing of a plurality of still images.

Abstract: An imaging element includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units that output an image signal for each pixel through a micro lens. An imaging signal processing circuit separates image signals output from the imaging element into a left-eye image signal and a right-eye image signal. An image combining circuit generates combined image data by performing arithmetic average processing for left-eye image data and right-eye image data. A recording medium control I/F unit controls to record left-eye image data and right-eye image data for use in 3D display and combined image data for use in 2D display in different regions in an image file.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing influence of flicker while suppressing delay of start of photographing. An image pickup device and a photometric sensor pick up images of an object. A CPU obtains images by controlling driving of one of the device and the sensor to perform charge accumulation and charge readout. Further, the CPU detects a flicker frequency and a flicker phase of a flicker light source, and stores them in a memory as first information. When photographing, if the CPU determines that the first information is not valid, an ICPU obtains images by controlling driving of the other of them to perform charge accumulation and charge readout. Further, the ICPU detects the flicker frequency and the flicker phase and stores them in a memory as second information. The CPU controls exposure timing according to the second information to perform photographing.

Abstract: An image stabilizing apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect motion vectors from a plurality of images acquired by an image sensor, a determination unit configured to determine a motion vector of an object among the motion vectors, a specifying unit configured to specify a target point in the images, and a control unit configured to provide an image stabilizing control based on the target point and a motion vector of the object. The control unit sets an image area in accordance with the motion vector of the object and the target point in the images, and provides the image stabilizing control based on the image area.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing influence of flicker while suppressing delay of start of photographing. An image pickup device and a photometric sensor pick up images of an object. A CPU obtains images by controlling driving of one of the device and the sensor to perform charge accumulation and charge readout. Further, the CPU detects a flicker frequency and a flicker phase of a flicker light source, and stores them in a memory as first information. When photographing, if the CPU determines that the first information is not valid, an ICPU obtains images by controlling driving of the other of them to perform charge accumulation and charge readout. Further, the ICPU detects the flicker frequency and the flicker phase and stores them in a memory as second information. The CPU controls exposure timing according to the second information to perform photographing.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing influence of flicker while suppressing delay of start of photographing. An image pickup device and a photometric sensor pick up images of an object. A CPU obtains images by controlling driving of one of the device and the sensor to perform charge accumulation and charge readout. Further, the CPU detects a flicker frequency and a flicker phase of a flicker light source, and stores them in a memory as first information. When photographing, if the CPU determines that the first information is not valid, an ICPU obtains images by controlling driving of the other of them to perform charge accumulation and charge readout. Further, the ICPU detects the flicker frequency and the flicker phase and stores them in a memory as second information. The CPU controls exposure timing according to the second information to perform photographing.

Abstract: An imaging element includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units that output an image signal for each pixel through a micro lens. An imaging signal processing circuit separates image signals output from the imaging element into a left-eye image signal and a right-eye image signal. An image combining circuit generates combined image data by performing arithmetic average processing for left-eye image data and right-eye image data. A recording medium control I/F unit controls to record left-eye image data and right-eye image data for use in 3D display and combined image data for use in 2D display in different regions in an image file.

Abstract: An imaging element includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units that output an image signal for each pixel through a micro lens. An imaging signal processing circuit separates image signals output from the imaging element into a left-eye image signal and a right-eye image signal. An image combining circuit generates combined image data by performing arithmetic average processing for left-eye image data and right-eye image data. A recording medium control I/F unit controls to record left-eye image data and right-eye image data for use in 3D display and combined image data for use in 2D display in different regions in an image file.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a calculation unit configured to calculate a driving amount of the optical element from a motion vector detected in an object area that contains an image of the object in a motion image generated by capturing, and a control unit configured to control the optical element according to the driving amount. The calculation unit calculates the driving amount for each of a plurality of motion vectors having different magnitudes detected in a plurality of object areas in the motion image. The control unit controls the optical element for each of the plurality of calculated driving amounts and for each capturing of a plurality of still images.

Abstract: This invention allows recording of moving images with a large number of pixels and high frame rate while suppressing the circuit scale and power consumption. A first processing circuit encodes a frame acquired from an image capturing device, records the resultant encoded data in a recording medium at a recording position received from a second processing circuit, and transmits a relevant data amount to the second processing circuit. The second processing circuit encodes a frame obtained from the image capturing device, records the resultant encoded data in the recording medium at a recording position determined in prior recording processing, determines a recording position for the first processing circuit, and transmits the determined recording position to the first processing circuit. Upon receiving information showing a data amount, the second processing circuit updates a recording position based on the received data amount.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing influence of flicker while suppressing delay of start of photographing. An image pickup device and a photometric sensor pick up images of an object. A CPU obtains images by controlling driving of one of the device and the sensor to perform charge accumulation and charge readout. Further, the CPU detects a flicker frequency and a flicker phase of a flicker light source, and stores them in a memory as first information. When photographing, if the CPU determines that the first information is not valid, an ICPU obtains images by controlling driving of the other of them to perform charge accumulation and charge readout. Further, the ICPU detects the flicker frequency and the flicker phase and stores them in a memory as second information. The CPU controls exposure timing according to the second information to perform photographing.

Abstract: This invention allows recording of moving images with a large number of pixels and high frame rate while suppressing the circuit scale and power consumption. A first processing circuit encodes a frame acquired from an image capturing device, records the resultant encoded data in a recording medium at a recording position received from a second processing circuit, and transmits a relevant data amount to the second processing circuit. The second processing circuit encodes a frame obtained from the image capturing device, records the resultant encoded data in the recording medium at a recording position determined in prior recording processing, determines a recording position for the first processing circuit, and transmits the determined recording position to the first processing circuit. Upon receiving information showing a data amount, the second processing circuit updates a recording position based on the received data amount.

Abstract: An imaging element includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units that output an image signal for each pixel through a micro lens. An imaging signal processing circuit separates image signals output from the imaging element into a left-eye image signal and a right-eye image signal. An image combining circuit generates combined image data by performing arithmetic average processing for left-eye image data and right-eye image data. A recording medium control I/F unit controls to record left-eye image data and right-eye image data for use in 3D display and combined image data for use in 2D display in different regions in an image file.