Imaging device and imaging method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016295206-A1
Application number	US-201615073786-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 18, 2016
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An imaging device includes an imaging unit which has an imaging element configured to nondestructively read an image signal and performs imaging of a subject using the imaging element, a reading control unit which performs nondestructive reading of the image signal from the imaging element during imaging of the subject, a temporary storage unit which stores the image signal nondestructively read by the reading control unit, an abnormality detection unit which detects the occurrence of an abnormal state during imaging of the subject, and a display control unit which reads and outputs the image signal stored in the storage unit in a case where the abnormal state is detected by the abnormality detection unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An imaging device comprising:
an imaging unit which has an imaging element configured to nondestructively read an image signal and performs imaging of a subject using the imaging element; a reading control unit which performs nondestructive reading of the image signal from the imaging element during imaging of the subject; a storage unit which stores the image signal nondestructively read by the reading control unit; an abnormality detection unit which detects the occurrence of an abnormal state during imaging of the subject; and an output unit which reads and outputs the image signal stored in the storage unit in a case where the abnormal state is detected by the abnormality detection unit.

2 . The imaging device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the reading control unit consecutively performs nondestructive reading of the image signal multiple times.

3 . The imaging device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the reading control unit performs nondestructive reading of the image signal at a given constant time interval set in advance.

4 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing in which the subject is placed and which has an opening/closing door; and an open state detection unit which detects an open state of the opening/closing door, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects the occurrence of the abnormal state in a case where the open state of the opening/closing door is detected by the open state detection unit.

5 . The imaging device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a housing in which the subject is placed and which has an opening/closing door; and an open state detection unit which detects an open state of the opening/closing door, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects the occurrence of the abnormal state in a case where the open state of the opening/closing door is detected by the open state detection unit.

6 . The imaging device according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a housing in which the subject is placed and which has an opening/closing door; and an open state detection unit which detects an open state of the opening/closing door, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects the occurrence of the abnormal state in a case where the open state of the opening/closing door is detected by the open state detection unit.

7 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an imaging element abnormality detection unit which detects abnormality of the imaging element, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects the occurrence of the abnormal state in a case where abnormality of the imaging element is detected by the imaging element abnormality detection unit.

8 . The imaging device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an imaging element abnormality detection unit which detects abnormality of the imaging element, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects the occurrence of the abnormal state in a case where abnormality of the imaging element is detected by the imaging element abnormality detection unit.

9 . The imaging device according to claim 3 , further comprising:
an imaging element abnormality detection unit which detects abnormality of the imaging element, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects the occurrence of the abnormal state in a case where abnormality of the imaging element is detected by the imaging element abnormality detection unit.

10 . The imaging device according to claim 4 , further comprising:
an imaging element abnormality detection unit which detects abnormality of the imaging element, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects the occurrence of the abnormal state in a case where abnormality of the imaging element is detected by the imaging element abnormality detection unit.

11 . The imaging device according to claim 5 , further comprising:
an imaging element abnormality detection unit which detects abnormality of the imaging element, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects the occurrence of the abnormal state in a case where abnormality of the imaging element is detected by the imaging element abnormality detection unit.

12 . The imaging device according to claim 6 , further comprising:
an imaging element abnormality detection unit which detects abnormality of the imaging element, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects the occurrence of the abnormal state in a case where abnormality of the imaging element is detected by the imaging element abnormality detection unit.

13 . The imaging device according to claim 7 ,
wherein the imaging element abnormality detection unit detects the temperature of the imaging element and detects abnormality of the imaging element in a case where the detected temperature is outside a range set in advance.

14 . The imaging device according to claim 8 ,
wherein the imaging element abnormality detection unit detects the temperature of the imaging element and detects abnormality of the imaging element in a case where the detected temperature is outside a range set in advance.

15 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a light source unit which irradiates the subject with light; and a light source abnormality detection unit which detects abnormality of the light source unit, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects the occurrence of the abnormal state in a case where abnormality of the light source unit is detected by the light source abnormality detection unit.

16 . The imaging device according to claim 15 ,
wherein the light source abnormality detection unit detects abnormality of the light source unit in a case where disconnection or short-circuiting of the light source unit is detected.

17 . The imaging device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the abnormality detection unit detects abnormal states in steps, and the imaging device comprises: a notification unit which gives notification of the abnormal state in a case where an abnormal state of a first step is detected; and a control unit which stops the imaging in a case where an abnormal state of a second step having a higher degree of abnormality than the first step is detected.

18 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a permanent storage unit which has a nonvolatile memory; and a selection reception unit which receives selection of whether or not to store the nondestructively read image signal read from the storage unit in the permanent storage unit, wherein the nondestructively read image signal is stored in the permanent storage unit in a case where the selection reception unit selects to store the nondestructively read image signal, and the nondestructively read image signal is not stored in the permanent storage unit in a case where the selection reception unit selects not to store the nondestructively read image signal.

19 . The imaging device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the imaging element is a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor image sensor.

20 . An imaging method using the imaging device according to claim 1 which performs imaging of a subject using an imaging element configured to nondestructively read an image signal, the imaging method comprising:
performing nondestructive reading of the image signal from the imaging element during imaging of the subject;
storing the nondestructively read image signal; and
reading and outputting the stored image signal in a case where the occurrence of an abno

Assignees

• Fujifilm Corp

Inventors

• Tanaka Yasutake
• Ohta Yasunori

Classifications

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/667

  Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes · CPC title

• H04N23/74

  by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N25/63

  applied to dark current · CPC title