Image input device and image input system which controls timing of successive imaging operations

Claim 2

An image input device for executing successive operations for imaging comprising: an imaging element for imaging an object to obtain image data for the object for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; and a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state.

Claim 3

An image input device according to claim 1 ; wherein said controller has a plurality of modes including a succession mode for executing said successive operations for imaging, and makes determination as to whether said succession mode is to be executed or any one of said plurality modes excluding said succession mode is to be executed according to a result of comparison between an exposure time obtained based on a photometric value by said imaging element and a preset allowable time in consideration for shaking of a camera.

Claim 4

An image input device for executing successive operations for imaging comprising: an imaging element for imaging an object to obtain image data for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a changing unit for changing an imaging range for the object to be imaged by said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; and a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state.

Claim 5

An image input device for executing successive operations for imaging comprising: an imaging element for imaging an object to obtain image data for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a changing unit for changing an imaging range for the object to be imaged by said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; and a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state.

Claim 6

An image input device according to claim 3 ; wherein said changing unit has a piezoelectric element and executes pixel shift in said imaging element by changing an imaging range of an object by means of actuating said piezoelectric element.

Claim 7

An image input device according to claim 3 ; wherein said controller has a plurality of modes including a succession mode for executing said successive operations for imaging, and makes determination as to whether said succession mode is to be executed or any one of said plurality modes excluding said succession mode is to be executed according to a result of comparison between an exposure time obtained based on a photometric value by said imaging element and a preset allowable time in consideration for shaking of a camera.

Claim 8

An image input device for executing successive operations for imaging comprising: an imaging element for imaging an object to obtain image data for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a memory for storing therein image data readout from said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state; and an image synthesizer for synthesizing the first and second image data read out under controls by said controller from said imaging element and stored in said memory.

Claim 9

An image input device for executing successive operations for imaging comprising: an imaging element for imaging an object to obtain image data for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a memory for storing therein image data readout from said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state; and an image synthesizer for synthesizing the first and second image data read out under controls by said controller from said imaging element and stored in said memory.

Claim 10

An image input device according to claim 6 ; wherein said controller varies an exposure time between said first operation for imaging and second operation for imaging.

Claim 11

An image input device according to claim 6 ; wherein said controller has a plurality of modes including a succession mode for executing said successive operations for imaging, and makes determination as to whether said succession mode is to be executed or any one of said plurality modes excluding said succession mode is to be executed according to a result of comparison between an exposure time obtained based on a photometric value by said imaging element and a preset allowable time in consideration for shaking of a camera.

Claim 12

An image input device for executing successive operations for imaging comprising: an imaging means for imaging an object to obtain image data for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a changing unit for changing an imaging range of an object to be imaged by said imaging element; a memory for storing therein image data read out from said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state; and an image synthesizer for synthesizing the first and second image data read out from said imaging element under controls by said controller and stored in said memory.

Claim 13

An image input device for executing successive operations for imaging comprising: an imaging means for imaging an object to obtain image data for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a changing unit for changing an imaging range of an object to be imaged by said imaging element; a memory for storing therein image data read out from said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state; and an image synthesizer for synthesizing the first and second image data read out from said imaging element under controls by said controller and stored in said memory.

Claim 14

An image input device according to claim 9 ; wherein said changing unit has a piezoelectric element and executes pixel shift in said imaging element by changing an imaging range of an object by means of actuating said piezoelectric element.

Claim 15

An image input device according to claim 9 ; wherein said controller varies an exposure time between said first operation for imaging and second operation for imaging.

Claim 16

An image input device according to claim 9 ; wherein said controller has a plurality of modes including a succession mode for executing said successive operations for imaging, and makes determination as to whether said succession mode is to be executed or any one of said plurality modes excluding said succession mode is to be executed according to a result of comparison between an exposure time obtained based on a photometric value by said imaging element and a preset allowable time in consideration for shaking of a camera.

Claim 17

An image input system comprising: an image input device for executing successive operations for imaging; and a computer connected to said image input device for processing image data through communications with said image input device; wherein said image input device comprises: an imaging element for imaging an object to obtain image data for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a memory for storing therein image data readout from said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; and a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state; and said computer comprises: a receiver for receiving the first and second image data stored in said memory through communications with said image input device; and an image synthesizer for synthesizing the first and second image data received by said receiver.

Claim 18

An image input system comprising: an image input device for executing successive operations for imaging; and a computer connected to said image input device for processing image data through communications with said image input device; wherein said image input device comprises: an imaging element for imaging an object to obtain image data for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a memory for storing therein image data readout from said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; and a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state; and said computer comprises: a receiver for receiving the first and second image data stored in said memory through communications with said image input device; and an image synthesizer for synthesizing the first and second image data received by said receiver.

Claim 19

An image input system according to claim 13 ; wherein said controller varies an exposure time between said first operation for imaging and second operation for imaging.

Claim 20

An image input system according to claim 13 ; wherein said controller has a plurality of modes including a succession mode for executing said successive operations for imaging, and makes determination as to whether said succession mode is to be executed or any one of said plurality modes excluding said succession mode is to be executed according to a result of comparison between an exposure time obtained based on a photometric value by said imaging element and a preset allowable time for shaking of a camera.

Claim 21

An image input system comprising: an image input device for executing successive operations for imaging; and a computer connected to said image input device for processing image data through communications with said image input device; wherein said image input device comprises: an imaging element for imaging an object to obtain image data for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a changing unit for changing an imaging range of an object to be imaged by said imaging element; a memory for storing therein image data read out from said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; and a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state; and said computer comprises: a receiver for receiving the first and second image data stored in said memory through communications with said image input device; and an image synthesizer for synthesizing the first and second image data received by said receiver.

Claim 22

An image input system comprising: an image input device for executing successive operations for imaging; and a computer connected to said image input device for processing image data through communications with said image input device; wherein said image input device comprises: an imaging element for imaging an object to obtain image data for a certain number of pixels; a read out signal generator for generating a read out signal to electrically read out image data from said imaging element; a changing unit for changing an imaging range of an object to be imaged by said imaging element; a memory for storing therein image data read out from said imaging element; a light-shutter for forming a light-shuttered state to said imaging element with an optical mechanism; and a controller for controlling a first and second exposure time for successive first and second of said successive imaging operations, wherein said first exposure time for said first imaging operation is ended by electrically reading out image data from said imaging element when said light-shutter is not in the light shuttered state, and said second exposure time for said second imaging operation is ended by switching said light shutter to the light shuttered state; and said computer comprises: a receiver for receiving the first and second image data stored in said memory through communications with said image input device; and an image synthesizer for synthesizing the first and second image data received by said receiver.

Claim 23

An image input system according to claim 16 ; wherein said changing unit has a piezoelectric element and executes pixel shift in said imaging element by changing an imaging range of an object by means of actuating said piezoelectric element.

Claim 24

An image input system according to claim 16 ; wherein said controller varies an exposure time between said first operation for imaging and second operation for imaging.

Claim 25

An image input system according to claim 16 ; wherein said controller has a plurality of modes including a succession mode for executing said successive operations for imaging, and makes determination as to whether said succession mode is to be executed or any one of said plurality modes excluding said succession mode is to be executed according to a result of comparison between an exposure time obtained based on a photometric value by said imaging element and a preset allowable time for shaking of a camera.