Video camera which adopts a focal-plane electronic shutter system

Abstract

A video camera includes an image sensor which repeatedly outputs an object scene image produced on an imaging surface by an exposure operation of a focal-plane electronic shutter system in a raster scanning manner. A post-processing circuit extracts a partial object scene image belonging to an extraction area, out of the object scene image outputted from the image sensor. A moving image based on the extracted partial object scene image is displayed on an LCD monitor by an LCD driver. A motion detecting circuit detects motion of the imaging surface in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis. A position of the extraction area is changed by a CPU so that the motion detected by the motion detecting circuit is compensated. The CPU also changes a shape of the extraction area so that a focal plane distortion is restrained, based on the motion detected by the motion detecting circuit.

1 . A video camera, comprising:
 an imager for repeatedly outputting an image representing an object scene;   a reducer for reducing the image outputted from said imager;   an extractor for extracting a partial reduced image belonging to an extraction area having a predetermined size, out of a reduced image created by said reducer; and   a size changer for changing a size of the reduced image created by said reducer in a range exceeding the predetermined size upon receipt of a zoom operation.   
     
     
         2 . A video camera according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a zoom lens arranged forwardly of said imager; and   a magnification changer for changing a magnification of said zoom lens in the same direction as a change direction of said size changer in association with the changing process of said size changer.   
     
     
         3 . A video camera according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a detector for detecting motion of an imaging surface in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis; and   a position changer for changing a position of the extraction area so that the motion detected by said detector is compensated.   
     
     
         4 . A video camera according to  claim 3 , wherein said imager includes an exposer for exposing said imaging surface by a focal-plane electronic shutter system, and said video camera further comprises a shape changer for changing a shape of the extraction area so that a focal plane distortion is restrained based on the motion detected by said detector. 
     
     
         5 . A video camera according to  claim 4 , wherein the extraction area is a rectangular area having a left side and a right side, and said shape changer changes inclination amounts of the right side and the left side based on a horizontal component of the motion detected by said detector. 
     
     
         6 . A video camera according to  claim 5 , further comprising a limiter for limiting a change amount of said position changer by referencing the inclination amounts changed by said shape changer. 
     
     
         7 . A video camera according to  claim 3 , further comprising a stopper for stopping said position changer when the motion detected by said detector is corresponding to a pan/tilt operation of the imaging surface. 
     
     
         8 . A video camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the image outputted from said imager is an image in which each pixel has any one of color information, out of a plurality of colors, and said video camera further comprises a convertor for converting the reduced image extracted by said extractor into an image in which each pixel has all the color information of the plurality of colors. 
     
     
         9 . A video camera according to  claim 1 , further comprising an outputter for outputting a moving image based on the reduced image extracted by said extractor.