Image pickup apparatus having image sensor capable of outputting parallax image signal, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor

A control method for an image pickup apparatus having an image sensor, the control method comprising;

• performing a first drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with the image sensor in order to obtain a first image signal used for at least one of a focus process and a photometry process, and a second drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with the image sensor in order to obtain a second image signal which is different from the first image signal, alternately, during continuous photographing that obtains the second image signals continuously using the image sensor;
• performing the photometry process based on the electric charge read by the first drive of the image sensor;
• starting calculation of an aperture value for obtaining the second image signal of an (N+1)th frame based on a result of the photometry process during accumulation of the electric charge for obtaining the second image signal of an N-th frame by the second drive;
• and
• controlling a diaphragm based on the aperture value calculated and a predetermined aperture value during reading of the electric charge for obtaining the second image signal of the N-th frame by the second drive.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program causing a computer to execute a control method for an image pickup apparatus having an image sensor, the control method comprising:

• performing a first drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with the image sensor in order to obtain a first image signal used for at least one of a focus process and a photometry process, and a second drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with the image sensor in order to obtain a second image signal which is different from the first image signal, alternately, during continuous photographing that obtains the second image signals continuously using the image sensor;
• performing the photometry process based on the electric charge read by the first drive of the image sensor;
• starting calculation of an aperture value for obtaining the second image signal of an (N+1)th frame based on a result of the photometry process during accumulation of the electric charge for obtaining the second image signal of an N-th frame by the second drive;
• and
• controlling a diaphragm based on the aperture value calculated and a predetermined aperture value during reading of the electric charge for obtaining the second image signal of the N-th frame by the second drive.

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor;
• a drive unit configured to alternately perform a first drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with the image sensor in order to obtain a first image signal used for at least one of a focus process and a photometry process, and a second drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with the image sensor in order to obtain a second image signal which is different from the first image signal, during continuous photographing that obtains the second image signals continuously using the image sensor;
• a photometry unit including a circuit configured to perform the photometry process based on the electric charge read by the first drive of the image sensor;
• a calculation unit configured to calculate an aperture value for obtaining the second image signal of an (N+1)th frame based on a result of the photometry process by the photometry unit;
• and
• a control unit configured to control a diaphragm based on the calculated aperture value with the calculation unit and a predetermined aperture value during reading of the electric charge for obtaining the second image signal of the N-th frame by the second drive of the image sensor,
• wherein the control unit controls the diaphragm so as to become the calculated aperture value and the drive unit performs the second drive immediately after the first drive when the calculated aperture value is more open side than the predetermined aperture value,
• wherein the drive unit performs the first drive after the control unit controls the diaphragm so as to become the predetermined aperture value, and then the drive unit performs the second drive after the control unit controls the diaphragm so as to become the calculated aperture value, when the calculated aperture value is not more open side than the predetermined aperture value, and
• wherein the drive unit, the calculation unit, and the control unit are provided at least in part by at least one processor configured to execute programs stored in memory.

A control method for an image pickup apparatus having an image sensor, the control method comprising;

• performing a first drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with the image sensor in order to obtain a first image signal used for at least one of a focus process and a photometry process, and a second drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with the image sensor in order to obtain a second image signal which is different from the first image signal, during continuous photographing that obtains the second image signals continuously using the image sensor;
• performing the photometry process based on the electric charge read by the first drive of the image sensor;
• calculating an aperture value for obtaining the second image signal of an (N+1)th frame based on a result of the photometry process;
• controlling a diaphragm so as to become the calculated aperture value during reading of the electric charge for obtaining the second image signal of an N-th frame by the second drive of the image sensor;
• performing the second drive immediately after the first drive, when the calculated aperture value is more open side than the predetermined aperture value;
• and
• performing the first drive after controlling the diaphragm so as to become the predetermined aperture value during reading of the electric charge for obtaining the second image signal of an N-th frame by the second drive of the image sensor, and then performing the second drive after controlling the diaphragm so as to become the calculated aperture value, when the calculated aperture value is not more open side than the predetermined aperture value.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program causing a computer to execute a control method for an image pickup apparatus having an image sensor, the control method comprising:

• performing a first drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with the image sensor in order to obtain a first image signal used for at least one of a focus process and a photometry process, and a second drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with the image sensor in order to obtain a second image signal which is different from the first image signal, during continuous photographing that obtains the second image signals continuously using the image sensor;
• performing the photometry process based on the electric charge read by the first drive of the image sensor;
• calculating an aperture value for obtaining the second image signal of an (N+1)th frame based on a result of the photometry process;
• controlling a diaphragm so as to become the calculated aperture value during reading of the electric charge for obtaining the second image signal of an N-th frame by the second drive of the image sensor, and performing the second drive immediately after the first drive, when the calculated aperture value is more open side than the predetermined aperture value, and
• performing the first drive after controlling the diaphragm so as to become the predetermined aperture value during reading of the electric charge for obtaining the second image signal of an N-th frame by the second drive of the image sensor, and then performing the second drive after controlling the diaphragm so as to become the calculated aperture value, when the calculated aperture value is not more open side than the predetermined aperture value.