Image pickup device and image display method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9560244-B2
Application number	US-201314407639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2013
Priority date	Jun 21, 2012
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

An image pickup device includes a first image sensor for photoelectrically converting subject light and generating an image, a second image sensor for photoelectrically converting the subject light and generating an image for a live view, a first optical member for transmitting the subject light and allowing the subject light to enter the first image sensor, and at the same time, reflecting the subject light, and a second optical member for leading the subject light reflected by the first optical member to the second image sensor and allowing the subject light to enter the second image sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An image pickup device, comprising:
a first image sensor configured to photoelectrically convert subject light and generate a first image;
a second image sensor configured to photoelectrically convert the subject light and generate a second image for a live view;
an auto focus sensor;
a semi-transmissive film configured to transmit the subject light and allow the subject light to enter the first image sensor, and at the same time, reflect the subject light;
a semi-transmissive mirror configured to reflect a part of the subject light reflected by the semi-transmissive film to the second image sensor and transmit a part of the subject light reflected by the semi-transmissive film to the auto focus sensor,
wherein the semi-transmissive mirror includes an optical surface that has a determined radius of curvature.

2. The image pickup device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a display panel configured to display the first image generated by the first image sensor and the second image generated by the second image sensor as a live view image.

3. The image pickup device according to claim 2 , wherein
the display panel is configured to display the second image generated by the second image sensor in an event the first image sensor is in exposure operation.

4. The image pickup device according to claim 2 , wherein
the display panel is configured to display the second image generated by the second image sensor in an event the first image sensor transfers the first image generated by the first image sensor.

5. The image pickup device according to claim 2 , wherein
the display panel is configured to display the second image generated by the second image sensor in an event the first image sensor continuously photographs.

6. The image pickup device according to claim 2 , wherein
the second image generated by the second image sensor is displayed on the display panel so that brightness of the second image generated by the second image sensor becomes equal to that of the first image generated by the first image sensor.

7. The image pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein
a surface, of the semi-transmissive mirror, closer to the auto focus sensor is a reflection surface.

8. The image pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein
the semi-transmissive mirror has a size that covers at least a subject image region captured by the first image sensor.

9. The image pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein
the semi-transmissive mirror includes a first region and a second region, wherein the second region has lower transmittance than that of the first region.

10. An image display method, comprising:
photographically converting, by a first image sensor, subject light and generating a first image;
photographically converting, by a second image sensor, the subject light and generating a second image for a live view;
transmitting, by a semi-transmissive film, the subject light and allowing the subject light to enter the first image sensor, and at the same time, reflecting, by the semi-transmissive film, the subject light;
reflecting, by a semi-transmissive mirror, a part of the subject light reflected by the semi-transmissive film to the second image sensor; and
transmitting, by the semi-transmissive mirror, a part of the subject light reflected by the semi-transmissive film to an auto focus sensor,
wherein the semi-transmissive mirror includes an optical surface having a determined radius of curvature; and

displaying, by a display panel, the first image generated by the first image sensor.

Assignees

• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Abe Wataru
• Yagyu Genta

Classifications

• H04N23/673

  based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method · CPC title

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · 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

• G03B13/06 Primary

  with lenses with or without reflectors · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title