Image pickup apparatus and image pickup method including clocks

An image pickup method using an image pickup apparatus which comprises a solid-state image pickup device which receives a picture light and outputs a charge signal according to the received light in response to a given timing signal;

• a sampling unit which samples the charge signal from the solid-state image pickup device in response to the given timing signal and outputs a sample signal according to a result of the sampling;
• an A/D converting unit which converts the sample signal from the sampling unit to a digital signal in response to the given timing signal;
• and a digital processing unit which applies predetermined processing for the digital signal and outputs the processed signal, the method comprising:
• in response to 1411 first clocks in a horizontal period of the timing signal supplied in the case where a picture signal of a first frame rate of 60 fps is obtained from the D/A converting unit, generating a timing signal having 1694 second clocks in the horizontal period and supplying a timing signal based on the generated timing signal to at least one of the solid-state image pickup device, the sampling unit, and the A/D converting unit in the case where a picture signal of a second frame rate of 50 fps.

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• a solid-state image pickup device which receives a picture light and outputs a charge signal according to the receipt of the light in response to a given timing signal;
• a sampling unit which samples the charge signal from the solid-state image pickup device in response to the given timing signal and outputs a sample signal according to a result of the sampling;
• an A/D converting unit which converts the sample signal from the sampling unit to a digital signal in response to the given timing signal;
• a digital processing unit which applies predetermined processing for the digital signal and outputs the processed signal;
• a D/A converting unit which outputs a picture signal obtained by converting to an analog signal the digital signal to which the predetermined processing has been applied;
• and
• a timing unit which, in response to 1411 first clocks in a horizontal period of the timing signal supplied in the case where a picture signal of a first frame rate of 50 fps is obtained from the D/A converting unit, generates a timing signal having 1178 second clocks, and supplies a timing signal based on the generated timing signal to at least one of the solid-state image pickup device, the sampling unit, and the A/D converting unit in the case where a picture signal of a second frame rate is 60 fps.

An image pickup method using an image pickup apparatus which comprises a solid-state image pickup device which receives a picture light and outputs a charge signal according to the received light in response to a given timing signal;

• a sampling unit which samples the charge signal from the solid-state image pickup device in response to the given timing signal and outputs a sample signal according to a result of the sampling;
• an A/D converting unit which converts the sample signal from the sampling unit to a digital signal in response to the given timing signal;
• and a digital processing unit which applies predetermined processing for the digital signal and outputs the processed signal, the method comprising:
• in response to 1411 first clocks in a horizontal period of the timing signal supplied in the case where a picture signal of a first frame rate of 50 fps is obtained from the D/A converting unit, generating a timing signal having 1178 second clocks in the horizontal period and supplying a timing signal based on the generated timing signal to at least one of the solid-state image pickup device, the sampling unit, and the A/D converting unit in the case where a picture signal of a second frame rate is 60 fps.