Video camera, imaging method using video camera, method of operating video camera, image processing apparatus and method, and solid-state electronic imaging device

The video camera comprising:

• imaging means for successively imaging a subject using two different amounts of exposure and outputting first and second image signals respectively representing two images obtained under the conditions of different amounts of exposure;
• first storing means for storing said first image signal outputted from said imaging means and representing the image obtained under the conditions of a large amount of exposure;
• second storing means for storing said second image signal outputted from said imaging means and representing the image obtained under the conditions of a small amount of exposure;
• determining means for determining the relatively high luminance area in the image represented by the first image signal stored in said first storing means or the relatively low luminance area in the image represented by the second image signal stored in said second storing means;
• and
• synthesizing means for synthesizing an image signal representing an area other than the high luminance area determined by said determining means in said first image signal and an image signal representing an area corresponding to said high luminance area in said second image signal, or synthesizing an image signal representing an area other than the low luminance area determined by said determining means in said second image signal and an image signal representing an area corresponding to said low luminance area in said first image signal.

A still video camera comprising:

• determining means for respectively determining a proper amount of exposure for a relatively high luminance area and a proper amount of exposure for a relatively low luminance area in a visual field of the camera;
• imaging means including a solid-state electronic imaging device for imaging a subject twice using the determined two different amounts of exposure and respectively outputting video signals representing images obtained by the imaging from said solid-state electronic imaging device;
• analog-to-digital converting means for respectively converting the video signals outputted from said imaging means into digital image data corresponding thereto;
• first storing means for storing first digital image data obtained by the analog-to-digital conversion and representing the image obtained under the conditions of a large amount of exposure;
• second storing means for storing second digital image data obtained by the analog-to-digital conversion and representing the image obtained under the conditions of a small amount of exposure;
• defining means for defining the relatively high luminance area in the image represented by the first digital image data stored in said first storing means;
• and
• image synthesizing means for generating composite image data by replacing image data representing the high luminance area defined by said defining means in said first digital image data with image data representing a corresponding area in said second digital image data stored in said second storing means.

A still video camera comprising:

• strobe flashing means for emitting strobe light twice, resulting in suitable amounts of exposure respectively for two areas different distances away from the camera in a visual field of the camera;
• imaging means for imaging a subject twice in synchronization with the emission of strobe light by said strobe flashing means to respectively output video signals representing images obtained by the imaging;
• analog-to-digital converting means for respectively converting the video signals outputted from said imaging means into digital image data corresponding thereto;
• first storing means for storing first digital image data obtained by the analog-to-digital conversion and representing one of the images;
• second storing means for storing second digital image data obtained by the analog-to-digital conversion and representing the other image;
• defining means for defining a relatively high luminance area in the image represented by the first digital image data stored in said first storing means;
• and
• image synthesizing means for generating composite image data by replacing image data representing the high luminance area defined by said defining means in said first digital image data with image data representing a corresponding area in said second digital image data stored in said second storing means.

A method of operating a video camera, comprising the steps of:

• successively imaging a subject using two different amounts of exposure to obtain image signals respectively representing two images generated under the conditions of different amounts of exposure;
• discriminating an image signal representing a relatively high luminance area in the image obtained under the conditions of a large amount of exposure or discriminating an image signal representing a relatively low luminance area in the image obtained under the conditions of a small amount of exposure by comparing the image signal with a predetermined threshold level;
• and
• generating a composite image signal by replacing the image signal representing the relatively high luminance area in the image obtained under the conditions of the large amount of exposure with an image signal representing a corresponding area in the image obtained under the conditions of the small amount of exposure or by replacing the image signal representing the relatively low luminance area in the image obtained under the conditions of the small amount of exposure with an image signal representing a corresponding area in the image obtained under the conditions of the large amount of exposure.